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. When Macon thinks of Sarah in her apartment, what does he imagine?

2. Why does Sarah want Macon to pull over?

3. What does he teach the cat to do?

4. Who is brave enough to try Rose's turkey at Thanksgiving?

5. What does Macon do when he wakes up from his dream about Grandfather Leary?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe some of Macon's domestic habits after Sarah has moved out of the house.

2. What does Julian offer to Macon when he comes over in Chapter 6?

3. Briefly describe Macon's relationship with Muriel and Alexander in Chapter 14.

4. Describe Muriel Pritchett when Macon first meets her and when he picks up Edward.

5. How does Macon respond to Muriel's story about her son and why?

6. What does Julian invite Macon and Muriel to and why is it significant?

7. According to Muriel, how did the birth of her son, Alexander, impact her marriage?

8. At Rose's and Julian's wedding, why is Macon worried that he's attracted to women like his mother?

9. What does Macon feel about Sarah at Rose and Julian's wedding?

10. In Chapter 6, why is Macon's typing interrupted?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the Leary Family and the Dugan Family. Discuss the following in terms of their function or dysfunction, their relationship to society and one another, and how Macon and Muriel fit in or don't it with them:

1. The roles of mothers.

2. The roles of fathers.

3. The roles of siblings.

Essay Topic 2

Describe Macon's role as a father in the novel.

1. How does he identify as a father-figure to Alexander?

2. How does he compare to the other fathers in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

The issue of class is significant in the novel. Macon's family is middle-class, while Muriel has a working-class background. When Macon begins to see Muriel, his family do not approve of Muriel because they think she is just out for a meal ticket. How are Macon's reservations about Muriel also about class division?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 736 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample