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. What do the brothers always wonder about each other?

2. What does Paul hope to avoid?

3. Who arrives at the train station a few days later?

4. What does Norman decide to do because he is frustrated with his family situation?

5. Who does Neal's family think should take the blame for Neal's condition?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Norman not remain to fish with Neal?

2. Who are the two brothers in the story?

3. What do Norman and Paul receive in the form of sermons from their father?

4. What happens one night after Norman and Paul spend the day fishing?

5. What is Norman's reaction to the phone call?

6. What do Norman and Paul find when they return to the spot where they left the car?

7. What is Reverend Maclean's second passion after religion?

8. What do Norman's wife and mother-in-law finally realize about Neal?

9. On what is the story based?

10. Why does Paul try to avoid Norman?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the symbolism of Jim's final letter to Norman describing Jim's conquest of a large woman. Why did Jim send such a letter? Does he think the large woman is some sort of trophy? What does he want Norman to know from this letter? Would Jim be surprised to learn that Norman thinks that Jim has finally met his match in the large woman?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the irony in Norman's being punished and sent to a mountaintop location with spectacular vistas. Does Bill know that Norman will not be especially industrious on the mountaintop? Is the lesson one in which Norman is supposed to meditate on his mistakes and emerge with a different point of view? By opening up Norman's vistas, is Bill also opening up his mind and attitude?

Essay Topic 3

Maclean's stories in this collection are based on real-life characters whom Norman feels are larger than life, certainly larger than himself. What character traits does Norman have that the other characters do not? Why is he just as important to the stories as the other characters he seems to admire?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 662 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample