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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 the name of the bar that Harris goes to in Book Four?

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

3. In Book Four, Grace wonders whether who would have been a better father to her son?

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

5. Who does Grace believe committed the murder in Book Three?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How is the theme of decay illustrated in Book Three of American Rust?

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

5. How has Billy Poe's character evolved in Book Four? What has led to the changes in Poe's character?

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

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

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

9. What leads up to the conflict between Poe and his cell-mate in Book Four? What is the outcome of the conflict?

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 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 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 3

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?

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