View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is James's reaction to burying Ambrose?

2. What does Mrs. Luvovitz sell by the roadside?

3. Who does James put in charge of raising the new baby after Materia's death?

4. Which North American city is Materia desperate to move to after her marriage?

5. What is James's secret to staying alive on the battlefield?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the reaction of Materia's parents to her marriage?

2. What is James's job in battle, and how does he manage to survive?

3. Where does James get the money to start his new business upon returning home?

4. How does Materia respond to her first pregnancy?

5. What motivates James to join the army?

6. Why does Materia feel guilty about her expectations for James's future in the army?

7. What is James's reaction to the news that his wife Materia is dead?

8. What is James obsessed with during his deployment, and how does that fuel his future upon returning home?

9. What did Mercedes think was happening when she watched the incident at the creek?

10. How does Mumma die?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout his fatherhood, James has worked a variety of jobs to support his family. First, create a time line of James's employment throughout the novel. Which jobs did he most enjoy? Which did he least enjoy? What traits about each of the jobs make them similar? Then, explain how these jobs help to characterize James not only as a man but as a father? What symbolism can be found in James's line of work? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

The idea of demons and devils is ever present in the novel. First, describe James's demon. Where did the demon come from? What does it tempt him to do? How does James try to overcome his demon's power? Then, compare / contrast James's demon to Frances's devil. Where does Frances believe her devil came from? What does it tempt her to do? What do you think the presence of demons and devils symbolizes in the Piper family history? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

There are three male babies born in the novel, and each of them dies shortly after birth. First, describe the three male babies and explain how each of them died. What symbolism can be found in the repeated death of the male babies? Do you think it is a coincidence that all the male babies died, or something darker? Did any of the babies die under suspicious circumstances? Finally, theorize how life in the Piper family might have been different if just one of the male babies had survived. Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,101 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample