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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 is the title of Part 4 of the novel?

2. What is described as "the oddest part about the calendar" that was in the donation box sent to Michael (141)?

3. Who is the woman that gave Matthew directions to the Merchisons' home in "Before the Beginning"?

4. When did Penelope and Michael arrange for their first official "date," according to the narrator in "Like Skiers on a Mountainside"?

5. What color are Michael's mother's glasses described as in "The Murderer Wasn't Always a Murderer"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Michael do after his mother died? Why?

2. What pets do the Dunbars have? What is the significance of their names?

3. Who are the Dunbar sons and what are their basic qualities?

4. Where did Michael Dunbar grow up? Who raised him?

5. What do garages signify in the novel?

6. How did the relationship between Penelope and Michael begin?

7. How does irony apply to Penelope's piano in Part 4?

8. How did Michael Dunbar first meet Abbey Hanley?

9. What is the significance of The Quarryman?

10. How did Michael and Penelope meet? What were their first impressions of each other?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Identify and discuss three examples of foreshadowing or red herrings in Bridge of Clay. What is the clue and what is foreshadowed? Does this example serve to create tension? Does it serve to develop humor?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the character of Carey Novac in Bridge of Clay. Where is Carey from? What is her passion in life? How does she meet Clay and what is their relationship like? What are the impacts of Carey's death?

Essay Topic 3

Outline and discuss the narrative plot structure of Bridge of Clay. What is the inciting incident in the story? Where does the climax occur? How would you compare the plot structure of this novel to the classical works that are alluded to in the work?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 699 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample