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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 item of evidence does Poe realize he left at the scene of the murder in Book One?

2. From whose house is Poe walking home in the beginning of Book Two?

3. What industry at the heart of the hometown where Isaac and Poe live?

4. Where does Isaac go to sleep after going to the murder scene in Book Two?

5. How much money has Issac stolen from his father in Book One?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What happens when Billy Poe is officially arrested for murder in Book Two?

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

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

5. What importance does the setting of American Rust play in the story?

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

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

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

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

10. What happens when Harris confronts Poe in the woods in Book Two?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the language style of the novel. How would you describe the author's approach to dialogue? In what ways does the language style of the novel reflect upon its characters and themes? What are some examples of literary devices used throughout the narrative?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of secrets in American Rust. What are some of the principle secrets that are revealed in the course of the narrative? How is this theme developed through character? How is it developed through setting, symbolism, and imagery?

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