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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 Poe's cell-mate masturbate to in the cell with Poe in Book Four?

2. What weapon is Isaac wielding when the cops begin chasing him in Book Three?

3. What does Poe do when his lawyer arrives to see him in Book Four?

4. What does Grace hand over to Harris in the end of Book Four?

5. Whom does Lee's father tell her not to trust in Book Three?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What is illustrated through the theft of Isaac's money in Book Three?

4. What does Bud Harris discuss with his friends Riley, Chester, and Frank at the Dead End bar in Book Four?

5. What information does Glen Patacki relate to Harris in Book Three?

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

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

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

9. What is significant about Isaac's use of the phrase "Badge of Honor" in Book Four?

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

Discuss the character of Bud Harris in American Rust. What is Harris's position in Buell? What is his relationship to Grace and Billy Poe? What actions does Harris commit in the narrative? Are these actions noble or dishonorable? Why?

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

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?

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