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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 Charity insist that she is doing?

2. What item does Sally add to the gear to prevent a further argument?

3. Where did Sid teach after losing his job in Wisconsin?

4. What does Larry catch Sid and Charity doing in the nude?

5. What new experience does Larry have in Vermont?

Short Essay Questions

1. What revelation does Sid share with Larry about his life?

2. How is Charity managing her illness?

3. How does the theme of rescue extend in Part 2: Chapter 2?

4. Why does Sid not want to go on the family picnic?

5. How do the Charity, Sid and Sally remain in character when facing Charity's imminent death?

6. How does Charity maintain control even though her death is imminent?

7. What happens to the relationship between the Morgans and the Langs during World War II?

8. Although Larry and Sally never had the advantages or financial ease that Sid and Charity did, they seem to have a better marriage. Explain how the author reveals this.

9. What is the situation the characters find themselves in when the novel returns to the present day in 1972?

10. To what does Larry compare the drowning mouse he comes across while searching for Sid?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What conflicts become apparent in the marriage of Sid and Charity? What resentments build as a result? How do they punish each other as the marriage ages?

Essay Topic 2

Explain how Charity wants to model her marriage and household after her mother's style. What are some of Charity's expectations? What happens when the expectations fall short?

Essay Topic 3

It seems as if Charity has every privilege and advantage in life and encounters almost no challenges while Sally has to struggle in fundamental things like giving birth and walking. Why does the author characterize these two women in these ways? What points is he trying to make?

(see the answer keys)

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