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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. Leigh writes to Mr. Henshaw on September 20 with ten questions. Number ten is not really a question. What is this statement?

2. Where did Leigh and his mother move after his parents’ divorce?

3. What is Leigh’s first response to Mr. Henshaw’s question “What do you wish?” in his December 1 letter?

4. What color is Leigh’s dog in Dear Mr. Henshaw?

5. Leigh tells Mr. Henshaw in his second letter on December 3 that if Mr. Henshaw responds to his letter Leigh gets to do what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Leigh say his father phoned him from in his January 8 diary entry?

2. What advice has Leigh taken from Mr. Henshaw in his December 13 letter? What further advice does he ask for?

3. On December 1, Leigh answers the final questions sent by Mr. Henshaw. How does he respond to “What bothers you?”

4. Which of Mr. Henshaw’s questions does Leigh respond to on November 20? What are his responses?

5. What does Leigh write about in his second letter to Mr. Henshaw, dated December 3? What grade is Leigh in now?

6. What new writing exercise does Leigh try out in his diary on January 10? Why?

7. What does Leigh ask Mr. Henshaw in his December 2 letter? What does Leigh relate about himself in this letter?

8. What does Leigh write about in his diary over the Christmas holidays (December 24-25)?

9. What does Leigh write about in his December 12 letter to Mr. Henshaw? Where did Leigh receive a postcard from?

10. What question does Leigh respond to in his November 24 letter? How does he respond?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of disappointment in Dear Mr. Henshaw. How is this theme illustrated through Leigh’s relationship with his father? How else in the story does the author illustrate this theme? What symbolism does the author use to support this theme?

Essay Topic 2

Define “epistolary” and discuss the characteristics of this style of literature. What documents can be used to make up an epistolary work of fiction? How does this literary style develop greater realism to a story? How is the narrative point of view determined in an epistolary novel?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the characters and setting of Beggar Bears. Where previously in the novel did the author foreshadow the appearance of this book by Mr. Henshaw? How? What does Leigh think of the story? How does it compare with Mr. Henshaw’s other books?

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