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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 Clyde receive an invitation to attend?

2. What does Clyde have to do before Samuel and his family give him special privileges and social attention?

3. Why does Clyde not see Roberta on Christmas day?

4. In what way does Clyde say he loves Roberta?

5. What does Sondra invite Clyde to do at a later date?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way does Clyde's behavior reflect American society?

2. How is Clyde's moral upbring still apparent in chapter 17?

3. How does Clyde react to the news Roberta is pregnant?

4. Why does Clyde continue to go against what he believes is right?

5. What are Clyde's parents opinion on his new job?

6. In what ways is Clyde becoming a less sympathetic character?

7. Why does the Governor grant Clyde a hearing?

8. How does Roberta and Clyde's relationship become even more complicated in book 2, chapter 38?

9. How do the Samuel Griffith family react to Clyde's popularity?

10. What does Clyde hope to achieve in his new position?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novel depicts the class system in America in the twenties.

1) How and why was life changing for the working classes in twenties America? How difficult was it for a member of the working classes to make an impact on society?

2) What were the role of the upper classes in twenties America? How much control did they have?

3) Do you think there is still a recognizable class system in America? In what ways has it changed?

Essay Topic 2

Using examples to support your argument discuss the following statement. Dreiser prose is pedestrian, uninspired and cliched.

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the characters from the novel.

1) What is the character's background?

2) What is the character's motivation and goals?

3) What do you think the character adds to the story? How would the story change if the character was taken away?

(see the answer keys)

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