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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 day is the store closed?

2. What causes the house to always be dusty?

3. What is the name of the magazine that Morris reads?

4. What do Frank's stories make Helen want to do?

5. What did doctors find in Morris' lungs?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kind of a living does Morris make? What is ruining Morris' business?

2. What does Frank want from Morris? What else might he be interested in?

3. How does Helen react to Nat's telephone call?

4. What do you think the relevance of St. Francis is to the story?

5. What does Morris do for the young girl? What does this tell you about his character?

6. How is business at the store?

7. How does Frank get a chance to talk to Helen? How does Helen react?

8. How does Helen feel about her failed relationship with Nat Pearl?

9. Why does Ida resent Morris and their current situation? What responsibility does she have for the state of their lives?

10. Who is the man hanging around the neighborhood?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay on the use of dreams and dream sequences in THE ASSISTANT. Be sure to address:

1) The role of dreams in the novel.

2) Examples of how dreams have influenced characters and foreshadowed events.

3) What you feel the role of dreams are in our everyday lives.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay on the role of the family provider. Be sure to address:

1) Changing trends in family providers, including gender roles, state involvement, and so on.

2) How being a family provider is dealt with in THE ASSISTANT, and the issues characters face in regards to being a provider.

3) Important characteristics and personality traits of a good family provider.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay describing the symbols used by the author in the novel. Be sure to address at least three symbols used by the author, with the essay focusing on their deeper meaning and role within the story.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 930 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample