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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. Where is the eight-house subdivision or "compound" of the GR located in Mapleton?

2. What is the name of Nora's sister with whom she lives after losing her family?

3. What does "GR" stand for in the narrative?

4. What is the name of Melissa Hulbert's daughter?

5. Who was the incumbent Kevin Gavin beat in a landslide victory for his political position in Mapleton?

Short Essay Questions

1. What main character is introduced in the Prologue? What information is related about this character in this brief section of the novel?

2. What does the act of smoking cigarettes signify in the novel?

3. What central metaphor is established through the narrative in Part One?

4. What does Reverend Matt Jamison give to Nora Durst in Part Two? How does she respond?

5. Who is Meg Lomax? What doubts does this character face when she is introduced in Part Two?

6. What are the subjects of Reverend Matt Jamison’s newsletters in the novel? What are the objectives of the newsletters?

7. How was Melissa Hulbert affected by the Sudden Departure? Whom did she lose?

8. What is Kevin Garvey’s role in Mapleton? Why does he attend the parade in Part One?

9. What does Reverend Matt Jamison represent symbolically in the narrative?

10. How would you describe Jill’s relationship with her father in Part One?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the mission and beliefs of the Watchers in the novel. Why do the Watchers wear white and smoke cigarettes? Whom do they follow and what are their reasons for following people? How many Watchers are there?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the plot structure of The Leftovers. What is meant when the narrative is described as “episodic”? How would you describe the linear and nonlinear qualities of the narrative? Where does the climax of the story occur?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the narrative style of The Leftovers. From whose perspective is the story related? Is the narrator’s perspective omniscient or limited? Why do you think the author employs this narrative style? How would the story differ if it were related from a different perspective?

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