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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. How many hours before he dies does George ask for a shave?

2. What month is it when Howard leaves his family in Chapter 2?

3. Who built George's house?

4. Who is the doctor that Kathleen plans to take George to after his hand has been bitten in Chapter 2?

5. Where did the hermit whose tooth Howard pulls attend college?

Short Essay Questions

1. How would you describe George's relationship to animals and nature based upon his actions in Chapter 2?

2. How does George become injured when he witnesses his father's seizure in Chapter 2, Part 1?

3. How does the author go about illustrating the opposite natures of George and Howard in Chapter 2?

4. What memories of George's are described "one hundred and sixty-eight hours" before George's death in Chapter 1?

5. How is the natural phenomenon of lightning used as a metaphor in Chapter 1?

6. How does Howard find George after he's run away from home in Chapter 2, Part 2? What are his thoughts upon finding his son?

7. How does the narrator describe George's attempt to make a memoir by cassette tape in Chapter 1?

8. What prompts Howard's decision to leave his family in Chapter 2, Part 2? Is this action a selfish or selfless act?

9. How is Kathleen's behavior described when Howard Crosby arrives home late after having a seizure in Chapter 1, Part 2?

10. What is ironic about George's role within his family, as illustrated in Chapter 2, Part 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the character of Howard Aaron Crosby in Tinkers. How is Howard perceived by his wife and children? How does the narrator describe Howard’s seizures? In what ways is Howard similar to George? How is he different?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the imagery of the collapsing house in Chapter 1. In what ways does the house represent George’s body as he faces death? What are some specific examples of similes and metaphors that are used in describing the house? Where does George end up when the house collapses around him?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the nonlinear aspects of Tinkers. When and where in the story does the narrative go back and forward through time? Why does the author make these abrupt shifts? Why do you think the author chooses not to delineate the transitions in the narrative and time period?

(see the answer keys)

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