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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. Where does Clyde say his father worked?

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

3. What does Clyde long to be part of?

4. Who invites Clyde on a weekend outing?

5. Whose house does Clyde start spending time at?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Sparser drive at such a careless speed?

2. Why does Clyde befriend Miller Nicholson?

3. What two taboos does Dreiser address in book 2, chapter 37?

4. Why does the Governor grant Clyde a hearing?

5. What is Clyde's view of his relationship with Roberta?

6. How does Jephson boost Clyde's courage?

7. How does Clyde's legal team begin their defense?

8. What evidence does bring to the court in his opening statement?

9. Describe the death house.

10. Why does Clyde think Jephson is his last hope?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

An American Tragedy ends as it started with the Griffith family preaching on the streets with their young grandson Russell. What do you think will happen to Russell in the future? In what way can Mrs. Griffith stop Russell from turning out like Clyde? How important is a child's upbringing?

Essay Topic 2

Dreiser depicts Clyde as a moral coward. Do you think this depiction of Clyde is fair? What are Clyde's strengths and weaknesses? Describe how Clyde could of used his strengths and weaknesses to become a success.

Essay Topic 3

Foreshadowing plays a big part in the novel. What is foreshadowing? How does Dreiser use foreshadowing in the novel? What affect does it have on the novel's meaning?

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