View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Jack's mother reveal to Jack about Judge Irwin

2. What does Lucy want Tom to do?

3. What does Willie say about interfering in the management of the hospital?

4. How did Judge Irwin get Mortimer L. Littlepaugh's job?

5. Who is the pregnant girl naming Tom Stark as the father of her baby?

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

What is the symbolism of Willie Stark's name? Does his name fit his bold physicality? How about his brash personality?

Essay Topic 3

What is the symbolism of Jack Burden's name? Do you feel that he carries a burden? Or is Jack himself the burden?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 301 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample