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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. To what year does the story flash back?

2. What does Willie do after he loses the election?

3. Where do Willie and Jack go after leaving Judge Irwin?

4. How does Willie benefit from what happens at the school fire drill?

5. Who becomes Willie's campaign manager?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jack's father mean when he shouts "Foulness" when Jack mentions Judge Irwin's name?

2. How does the author indicate that Willie is against drinking alcohol?

3. What is the nature of Anne Stanton's depression?

4. When is Jack able to leave California and return home?

5. Which of the Mastern family members holds special appeal for Jack?

6. What is revealed in the literary technique does the author use at the beginning of Chapter 2?

7. Explain the actions in Chapter 9 which create not only the climax of the novel but also the classic theme of good vs. evil.

8. How does Jack come to learn about the Mastern family?

9. Under what circumstances did Jack's parents meet?

10. Jack is not the only character undergoing a radical shift in perspective. What happens to Willie after the football game injury which paralyzes his son, Tom?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Willy Stark to Huey Long, the real Governor of Louisiana during that time period. How are they alike? How are they different? Do you think the author's characterization of Willy is so true to Huey Long because the novel was written so soon after Long's death and his personality was still so "alive?" What risks did the author run by writing a book that so closely mirrored a public figure with a questionable past?

Essay Topic 2

Do you think Jack was surprised to learn about Judge Irwin's acceptance of the bribe related to the utilities company case? For some reason, Jack has an instinct that Judge Irwin's vulnerability is related to money. Why? Is it sad or practical that Jack can learn about the judge's flaw and accept it? Explain why Jack feels the need to research the judge in the first place.

Essay Topic 3

If Jack's mother has always been in love with Judge Irwin, why didn't she marry him, especially when she became pregnant? Why would Jack's mother suffer through a string of inferior men as husbands? What price did she pay in order to keep Jack ignorant about the identity of his real father?

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