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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. Why does Grace struggle with hiring a lawyer for her son in Book Three?

2. Harris's friends discuss town gossip in Book Four, including criticism that Harris let Poe off too easily several years ago when he'd done what?

3. How do the inmates plan to get Poe alone with the person they want him to beat up in Book Three?

4. What does the black prisoner call Poe when he approaches him in the cafeteria in Book Three?

5. Why is Isaac unable to retrieve his pack in the beginning of Book Four?

Short Essay Questions

1. What internal conflicts does Henry English face in Book Four?

2. What ultimatum does Billy Poe face with the white prison gang in Book Three? What is demonstrated through this ultimatum?

3. What do Isaac and Baron do upon arriving in the outskirts of Detroit in Book Three?

4. What internal conflict does Poe face while in solitary confinement in Book Four?

5. What foreshadowing is revealed through Poe's inner monologues in Book Four?

6. What does Poe decide to do at the end of Book Three? Why?

7. What leads up to the cafeteria fight between Poe and another inmate in Book Three?

8. What inner conflicts does Grace Poe face in the beginning of Book Three?

9. How is the theme of sacrifice explored in Book Four of American Rust?

10. What do Grace and Harris discuss when he visits her in Book Four?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Describe and analyze the plot structure of American Rust. Where in the narrative do the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement occur? How traditionally structured is the plot of the novel? Would you describe the ending of the novel to be hopeful or tragic? Why?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 984 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample