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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who offers the prayer at Hugh's wake?

2. Why does Everett miss the message about Irwin's wedding and draft into the army?

3. What does Freddy name her dog?

4. For what sport does Irwin leave baseball?

5. According to Hugh in Book Five, what does W.P. stand for?

Short Essay Questions

1. What reason does Natasha give to Everett for not wanting to sleep after their coffee date in Book Four?

2. Why does Peter refuse to buy back his manuscripts in Book Five?

3. What effect does Everett's glasses have upon his baseball game?

4. When Irwin is released from the hospital in Book Six, what is his condition?

5. What does Laura plan to do at church in Chapter 8, and what ends up happening instead?

6. What does Everett send to Irwin as a "homeopathic dose of sanity and antidote to Army Brain" in Book Five?

7. What causes Winnifred, or Freddy, to become upset at Sunday School with Mrs. Babcock and to begin quoting Muhammad?

8. How does Natasha respond to Everett's public debate with Dr. Gurtzner?

9. Why does Major Keys think that Irwin is a difficult and stubborn case?

10. What do Hugh and Kincaid do to help them sleep the night before they are going to free Irwin in Book Six?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In The Brothers K a lot of focus is given to the issues of right versus wrong. Using specific characters and situations, discuss how Duncan highlights this dichotomy and specifically how the idea of right versus wrong relates to good versus evil.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the dramatic structure of The Brothers K. Use textual evidence to designate the expository, rising action, the climax, falling action, and denouement.

Essay Topic 3

What is David James Duncan's writing style? Discuss both the mechanical aspect of his writing and his "voice" throughout the novel. Make sure to discuss what literary tools and devices he relies on most and what specific parts of the text reflect his voice.

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This section contains 703 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample