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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 one thing did Chick notice his parents did together that seemed to make them both happy?

2. Who supposedly attempted to kill himself/herself?

3. How many visits does Posey tell Chick she must make that day?

4. What word does Posey show Chick carved into the tree?

5. What song does Chick recall that his mother liked when he was a child?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did the narrator later find belonging to Chick Benetto that was used in writing this book?

2. What causes Chick's mother to stop playing her favorite record?

3. What event caused Chick Benetto to lose faith in himself?

4. What question does the narrator pose at the end of the Introduction?

5. What does Chick say after breakfast that causes his mother to question him?

6. What phrase does Chick feel describes him completely?

7. When did Chick say he felt he became a Mommy's boy?

8. What word did Chick's mother help Chick find the definition for despite his father's disapproval of her help?

9. Why does Chick return to his family home? What does he find there?

10. What one thing does Chick recall always made his parents happy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following themes in detail, citing examples from the novel:

1) Death

2) Suicide

3) Father-Son Relationships

4) Mother-Son Relationships

Essay Topic 2

Discuss father-daughter relationships. How is Chick's relationship with his daughter like his own relationship with his father? How is Chick's relationship with his daughter like his relationship with his mother? Why is Chick's relationship with his daughter important to the plot of the novel? Who is Chick's daughter? How is Chick's sister's relationship with their mother different from Chick's relationship with their mother? Is this difference important to the developing plot? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Chick's father. Who is Chick's father? Why did Chick's father leave the family? How did divorce affect Chick's relationship with his father? How did baseball play a role in Chick's relationship with his father? How did baseball pull Chick and his father apart?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 605 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample