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 literary technique does the author use to take the story back in time again?

2. What is the quality of Willie's speeches?

3. Why does the Attorney General, Hugh Miller resign his position?

4. What happens to indicate that Lucy is not engaged in Willie's life?

5. What does Gilbert do after he runs away from home?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is it that makes Adam accept the position of director of the hospital?

2. How does Jack reason out Judge Irwin's role in his childhood?

3. How does the author begin the story in the present time of 1936?

4. What twist of fate changes public perception of Willie Stark?

5. What leads Jack to believe that the judge had more secret financial dealings?

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

7. What is the reason that Willie's wife, Lucy, is leaving him?

8. What role did Judge Irwin play in Jack's childhood?

9. Why is the move to hire Adam Stanton as the administrator of Willie's new hospital so out of character for Willie?

10. What is Willie's second plan of action when he cannot get to the Fryes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain how Willie's role as protagonist evolves as the plot extends. How does Willie change from the hard-working farm boy to a manipulative politician? What are Willie's motivators? Is Willie the typical protagonist hero at heart?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of good vs. evil in the novel. Who/what represents good? Who/what represents evil? How do they co-exist or do they? What is the final confrontation?

Essay Topic 3

The author has fun with the names of some of the characters such as Sugar Boy, Sen Sen Puckett and Tiny Duffy. Explain how these characters got their names. Why are the names appropriate for each one? Can you imagine them as being called anything else? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,020 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample