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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 does Paul begin seeing Cantwell?

2. Who does Paul become co-dependent on to help his self-esteem?

3. How does Paul mask parts of his autobiography?

4. What does Paul like to do while reading Thoreau?

5. What does Pip and Paul want to believe about women and relationships?

Short Essay Questions

1. Although many of Paul's friends die due to AIDS and he expects the same ending, what he Paul happy about?

2. What is Cantwell's theory on why Paul seeks approval? How does Paul feel about it?

3. How does Paul feel about graduation time at Yale?

4. Paul has several ideas concerning love. According to Paul, love allows a person to do what? What is needed from a person the deeper love gets?

5. Compare and contrast Paul's life and role between Sutton Hill and Canton Academy. Which seems more fitting for Paul? In what way?

6. Why does Paul's self-esteem go up when the French soldiers cheer him on?

7. What epiphany does Paul realize as he gets to know the personal loves of all his lovers during his spree of flings in Boston?

8. What moment does Paul finally get that is comparable to the Andover jocks that tease Mr. Nindle? How does Paul react to it?

9. What moment does Paul recall on the beach one December day as he skips stones? Why is this memory important?

10. As Paul starts up various relationships during his time of therapy, how does his whirlwind of affairs end?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare Paul as a high school teacher to Paul's high school teachers from Philips Academy. What does Paul observe of the teachers at Philips Academy that he himself does when he is older? How does he become one of them?

Essay Topic 2

Paul describes "keeping the wounds raw." How does this statement describe Paul's life and his writings?

Essay Topic 3

Jackie and Big Paul raise Bobby as if there is nothing medically wrong. What benefits and consequences result for Bobby and the family from this style of coping? Consider physical and emotional benefits and consequences.

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