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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 two books did Penelope's father obsess over?

2. What is the title of Part 2 of the novel?

3. What did Penelope ask Michael to read from to her after she broke her nose?

4. Who is the eldest of the Dunbar brothers?

5. Who was the man that gave Penelope money to call her father from the pay phone in "The Birthday Girl"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What inner conflicts does Clay face regarding returning home after he has spent time at his father's home?

2. How did Clay obtain Michael's address?

3. What essential information is related in the prologue of the novel?

4. What led to the end of Michael's relationship with Abbey?

5. How is the mood developed in Part 1? What mood is evoked?

6. What is revealed in the letters Clay receives in Part 4?

7. How is Clay greeted upon returning to the Dunbar home in Part 4?

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

9. How do Clay's brothers help him train?

10. Who does "the Murderer" refer to and why does he come to the Dunbar home?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the narrative style of Bridge of Clay. From whose perspective is the story related? Why do you think the author has chosen this particular narrative voice? Is the narrator reliable or unreliable? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the symbolism of the bridge in Bridge of Clay. What does the bridge represent to the characters in the story? What does it represent to you as a reader? What themes are evoked through this symbolism?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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