View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. With whom does the narrator share his favorite snack?

2. What wooden animal stands on a beach?

3. What are the older campers at the narrator's childhood summer camp called?

4. Who is in the car in front of the narrator?

5. Where does the narrator think many great ideas are invented?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the narrator think about the New Jersey traffic circles?

2. Describe some of the projects created in leathercraft.

3. Why does the narrator question his impatience to get through the tunnel?

4. How were the boys initiated into camp life upon their arrival?

5. How did the narrator's army experience separate him from the world?

6. In what circumstances does the narrator find himself as the novel opens and how does he perceive his circumstances?

7. How does New Jersey symbolize American culture for the narrator?

8. Why was the narrator underwhelmed by his summer camp experience?

9. Why was forestcraft so boring to the narrator and his friends?

10. Name some New Jersey characteristics that make it the butt of comedians' jokes.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the significance of the book's title, "A FISTFUL OF FIG NEWTONS." Why did Shepherd choose this title? Is there an understood message in the title? Is there another title you can suggest that might be just as appropriate?

Essay Topic 2

Explain how the narrator is always positioned as an "everyman" in each of the stories. Define what is meant by "everyman" and cite two examples in which the narrator assumes this role. Was he comfortable knowing he was neither brain nor brawn, but a curious observer? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

What is the point of view of this book? Why did Shepherd use this point of view? Is it the only way the book could have realistically been written? How else could Shepherd have used point of view to alter the rhythm of the book? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,099 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample