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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 Robby characterize Stavros?

2. Why did Robby go to this place?

3. What does Robby say his ambitions were?

4. What does John say doesn't feel right about this trip?

5. What does Robby say made Stavros go down?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Robby and his crew turn from drugs to crime?

2. How does John describe Robby's drug deal in Detroit?

3. How does Robby characterize his work with autistic kids?

4. Describe Robby's relationship with Tanya.

5. How did Robby and his crew get assistance on the night of the robbery?

6. What did Robby and Cecil argue about?

7. Who was Red Murphy?

8. How is John's 1982 visit unusual?

9. How did Robby and his crew pull off the robbery?

10. Describe Robby's meeting with Johnny-Boy.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Assess the proposition that prisons are an inhumane form of retribution for crimes such as Robby's.

Essay Topic 2

How does John characterize his brother? What literary techniques does he use to bring his brother to life as a literary character? How does his characterization change throughout the course of the memoir, as he writes one draft and then another? What does John learn about himself and his brother in the process of trying to capture this story in writing?

Essay Topic 3

In what way are John and Robby American? What part of their experience is essentially American, and what other parts of their experiences are not typically American? What nationality or identity do they partake of if they are not American?

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