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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 Baron teach Isaac to do in Book Two?

2. Who among the drifters at the car factory is described as an old man?

3. In what town has Isaac grown up?

4. What is the name of Poe's mother?

5. What does Isaac realize he left at the murder scene in Book One?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Where does Isaac plan to travel in Book One? Why?

4. How does the murder in Book One influence the characters of Isaac and Poe?

5. What takes place in Grace Poe's narrative in Book Two?

6. How does the theme of fatalism apply to Henry and Lee English in the novel?

7. How would you describe the atmosphere of the setting and characters in Book One?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Henry English's circumstances in the novel. How did Henry become injured? What are the extent of his injuries? What leads Henry to kill himself at the end of the narrative?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the narrative style of American Rust. Is the story related in the present tense or past tense? Is the narrator involved in the action of the story? Is the narrative perspective omniscient or limited? What are the effects of each of these choices?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the setting of the Fayette prison in the novel. How do the rules and morals within the prison differ from those in the outside world? How do Poe's experiences in the prison change him? Who are the major characters introduced at Fayette prison?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 912 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample