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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 speaks often of the tragedy?

2. What does Paul put in the river?

3. Why does Norman think that Paul stays close to him while fishing?

4. Other than fish, what else did the brothers do?

5. Who in the family becomes an expert fisherman?

Short Essay Questions

1. What favor does Norman ask of his brother, Paul?

2. Who arrives to surprise Norman and Paul at the cabin?

3. On what is the story based?

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

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

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

7. Why does Norman's mother-in-law enlist Norman's help on Neal's behalf?

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

9. Which of the two brothers is the better fisherman?

10. Who are the two brothers in the story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why is Norman drawn to Bill Bell? What is it about Bill's personality and behavior that is appealing? Why do you think Bill is so blase about Norman? Do you think Norman senses this and tries all the harder to impress Bill? Why does Norman need to be liked so much?

Essay Topic 2

Why does Norman find Jim Grierson to be such a repugnant character? What is known about Jim and Norman's backgrounds which may indicate the huge conflict in their personalities? Jim is probably intelligent because he reads all the time and he is crafty enough to make extra money, so where is the disconnect for Norman as far as Jim is concerned? Support your answer with examples.

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)

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