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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. How did the coal strike affect the people of Gibbsville?

2. What day is it as the novel opens?

3. What is William Dilworth English's profession?

4. What does Lute consider making to take to the party?

5. How much did Ed Charney give Al to have Ed's car washed after Al got out of prison?

Short Essay Questions

1. Of all the men from whom she had to choose, why was Caroline drawn to Julian?

2. How does alcohol become a status symbol during the 1920s and 1930s?

3. What happens when Julian goes to Harry's house?

4. What is the irony about Dr. English's view on his son's alcohol abuse?

5. Who is Al Grecco?

6. How does Irma feel superior to the Jewish people across the street?

7. What were the repercussions of the coal strike in 1925?

8. How is Lute portrayed as a generous and thoughtful person?

9. What does Christmas dinner at Julian's parent's home exemplify?

10. What does this chapter reveal about the story's protagonist, Julian English?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why did the author choose to use the omniscient narrator perspective for this story? What does this point of view entail? What do you know about the characters and the plot line that you would not know from a different point of view?

Essay Topic 2

Julian is a classic alcoholic. Cite some typical behaviors of alcoholics and how Julian exhibits the behaviors. How do Caroline and Julian's parents exhibit the typical behavior of those close to alcoholics?

Essay Topic 3

Describe Caroline. Do you think she is happy being married to Julian? Or was marriage just an inevitable path for women in the 1920s? Do you think she is pleased with her choice or just making the best of a difficult situation? Explain.

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