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. Where does Shadow drive Mr. Nancy at the beginning of Chapter 19?

2. To what resident of Lakeside is Sam Black Crow related?

3. What is Laura certain of as she sits next to the dead Shadow in Chapter 17?

4. What bad news about herself does Laura tell Shadow in Chapter 15?

5. In what southern state is Rock City located?

Short Essay Questions

1. What major plot development does Shadow witness from his jail television in Chapter 13?

2. What transformation does Laura Moon undergo in Chapter 17?

3. What connection forms between Wututu and Agasu when they are taken to America?

4. How does Laura Moon kill Mr. World in Chapter 18?

5. How does Shadow Moon interact with the camp of the new gods in Chapter 14?

6. What is Loki and Wednesday's plan for the battle?

7. What divine message does Shadow recall in Chapter 19?

8. Describe Shadow's interaction with Zorya Polunochnyaya in Chapter 16?

9. Why does Easter not want to join Wednesday's campaign, and how does he convince he to?

10. What is backstage?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In many respects, the main character of Neil Gaiman's novel is America. In his understanding, the "melting pot" is a profoundly spiritual place because it has embraced so many different spirits. Write an essay on the topic of the novel as a treatise celebrating America's spiritual past. What faiths does the narrative encompass? What value does it assign each? Is one more important than the others? Do you think that Gaiman, a Brit, presents a largely positive or negative picture of America in AMERICAN GODS? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

In the character of Shadow Moon, Neil Gaiman has created a protagonist that, perhaps for selfish reasons, represents absolute loyalty. He demonstrates this through his commitment to Wednesday's campaign. Write an essay about this commitment, in three parts:

Part 1) Early in the novel, Shadow goes to extreme lengths to bring Czernobog on board with Wednesday. What agreement does he make with the fearsome god? How does this seem completely foolhardy? How, in the end, is Shadow rewarded for his commitment to others?

Part 2) When Ibis and Jacquel deliver news that Wednesday had been killed, does Shadow hesitate in agreeing to sacrifice himself to resurrect the god? Write a paragraph about his choice, focusing on the entreaties made by others for him to reconsider? What does he have to gain from this decision, and what does he have to lose?

Part 3) Write a summation paragraph examining Shadow's state of mind when he meets Shadow. What does he have to live for? Does he ever consider ending his own life? In what respect would death be a relief to him, and do you believe this affects the decisions he makes regarding Wednesday's war campaign?

Essay Topic 3

Part of Neil Gaiman's agenda in writing AMERICAN GODS is to illustrate how the traditions of today's popular religions have their roots in the ancient pagan faiths. He does this by craftily presenting these similarities baldly but without author's commentary. Write an essay about two of these examples:

Part 1) Early in the novel, Gaiman tells the story of Vikings who came to America. What traditional story of Odin do they bring with them? What iconography is so central that they reenact it in celebration of the god? To what Christian iconography is this similar? In what way does this create a comparison between Odin and Jesus Christ?

Part 2) Midway through AMERICAN GODS, Shadow and Wednesday go to San Francisco to speak with the goddess Easter. What connection does she draw between her divine traditions and the Christian celebration named for her? How are the two connected? What argument does Wednesday make to Easter regarding her presence in the Christian holiday?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,205 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample