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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 is Poe conflicted about in Book Four?

2. What does Poe make from cloth his first day in prison in Book Three?

3. Where do Grace and Harris meet in the end of Book Four?

4. What does Poe learn will happen to him regarding the incident with his cell-mate in Book Four?

5. What is Otto referred to as throughout the narrative?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How has Poe's character evolved in Book Three? How does the author illustrate the changes in Poe's character?

3. How has Issac's character evolved in Book Three? How are the changes in Isaac's character revealed?

4. What does Isaac do at the Wal-Mart store in Book Four?

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

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

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

8. How has Isaac English's character evolved in Book Four? How does the author illustrate the changes in Isaac?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 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

Discuss the motif of suicide in American Rust. What characters have committed, attempt to commit, or do commit suicide in the novel? Why do they commit suicide? What do you think this indicates?

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