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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. What does Grace dream of doing in Book One?

2. How does Isaac escape when he and Poe are initially confronted by the vagrants in the car factory?

3. How is Isaac's physicality described in the narrative?

4. How are Baron's friends described in Book Two?

5. What does Harris warn Poe NOT to do when he releases him from the jail in Book Two?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the theme of fatalism apply to Grace and Billy Poe in Book One?

2. What internal conflicts does Poe face in the beginning of Book Two?

3. Describe the character of Bud Harris in the narrative. What is revealed about Harris's inner thoughts in Book Two?

4. How is Billy Poe's introduction to the Fayette Prison described in Book Two?

5. The theme of fatalism plays a large part in American Rust. How does fatalism apply to the murder of Otto?

6. What does Poe reveal to Lee about the murder in Book Two? How does she respond?

7. What secrets are revealed in Book Two? How do these secrets serve the plot?

8. What is revealed through the encounter between Harris and Poe while Poe is in a holding cell in Book Two?

9. Where does Isaac encounter the teenage thugs in Book Two? What happens when he encounters them?

10. How is Isaac English described when his character is introduced in Book One? What are Isaac's circumstances in the beginning of the novel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the character of Grace Poe in the novel. How is Grace described? What is her relationship like with her son? What is Grace's relationship like with Virgil? What is revealed of Grace's character through her actions in the story?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss Isaac's journey in the narrative. Where does Isaac travel to and how does he get there? Whom does Isaac meet along his journey? How does Isaac's journey change him as a character?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the opinions of Buell's townspeople following Poe's arrest. What gossip has emerged within the town? What gossip emerges regarding Harris's involvement in the case? What are the repercussions of this gossip?

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This section contains 955 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample