View a FREE sample

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 restaurant Clyde has dinner at?

2. What is the name of Clyde's cousin?

3. Where does Clyde visit to stave off loneliness?

4. What can factory girls never aspire to?

5. Where is the party Sondra invites Clyde to go to?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way are Clyde's faults exposed in chapter 9, book two?

2. Why does Clyde appeal to Sondra?

3. How so the strict social rules affect Roberta?

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

5. What information does Clyde give the authorities?

6. Why does Clyde befriend Miller Nicholson?

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

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

9. Why does the Samuel Griffith family refuse Clyde's insanity plea?

10. Describe how Clyde kills Roberta.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The book ends with Clyde being executed. What are your views on capital punishment? Why do you think society has become less tolerant of capital punishment?

Essay Topic 2

An American is a famous book which has greatly influenced popular culture. Choose a film or book written after An American Tragedy that you think was influenced by the novel and discuss there similarities in terms of a) plot b) character c) themes.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 725 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample