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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 does John notice about the prisoners?

2. When did John realize the effect of Garth's death on Robby?

3. How long is Robby's prison sentence?

4. What does John say Jamila is obsessed with?

5. John says that the prisoners are like him except for what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Robby's entrance into drugs and crime.

2. Why does John say it might have been a mistake to bring Robby home with him?

3. What does John say about his wife and daughter?

4. What does John say Jamila knows of Robby?

5. Who travels to the prison to visit Robby?

6. How does John say he and his family are treated at the penitentiary?

7. What happened to Robby that he was wanted by the police?

8. How does John describe his and his siblings' background?

9. Why was Robby expelled from high school in 1968?

10. How does John characterize the significance of Robby's birthday?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

According to John Wideman, Robby is locked up like an animal. What other metaphors are common to "Brothers and Keepers", and what does the web of metaphorical associations tell us about Wideman and his ideas about Robby's incarceration? Does he treat the idea playfully? Is he deadly serious about it? Does he try to magnify the significance of it through metaphor? Does he try to diminish it or domesticate it?

Essay Topic 2

What is the role of family in the relationship between John and Robby? Who else participates in their relationship, and who is instrumental in keeping their relationship going? How is John's solo visit to see Robby different from his visits with Judy and Jamila?

Essay Topic 3

Write an evaluative review of "Brothers and Keepers". What is this book's place in culture? What are its uses? Who is its audience? What are its limitations?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 745 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample