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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 the second girl the narrator speaks to say she enjoys?

2. What does Greta say makes her angry?

3. Now that Missy can see Harlequin, what does she tell him to do?

4. What was written on the postcard that the narrator found?

5. Where does Missy take Harlequin's gift?

Short Essay Questions

1. What different kinds of vampires are there in 'Fifteen Painted Cards from a Vampire Tarot'?

2. Why does the father in 'Locks' feel that we owe it to ourselves to tell each other stories?

3. In 'The Day the Saucer's Came' why does the person in the poem not notice such incredible events?

4. How does Missy get the better of Harlequin?

5. In 'My Life' is the poet telling the truth about anything he says?

6. How does the father in 'Locks' interpret the story differently from his two-year-old child?

7. Is the professor the same person as Susan from the Narnia books?

8. Why does Becky break up with the narrator?

9. In what ways is 'In The End' a reversal of the creation story in Genesis?

10. What kind of beings are Wain's Wain and the second girl whom Enn talks to?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss characterization in two of the stories or poems in the collection. How has the author communicated what the characters are like, and how does he create sympathy for them? Do the characters act consistently? Do they seem like real people?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of evil and monsters in the poems and stories in this collection. Pay particular attention to the stories 'Keepsakes and Treasures,' 'How Do You Think it Feels?' and 'The Monarch of the Glen." Also, bring in any other stories and poems you like as well. What does the author have to say about evil and human nature? Do you agree with him?

Essay Topic 3

What is the 'Problem of Susan'? How does the author attempt to address it? Do you think he has succeeded? What do you think the author's opinion of the Problem of Susan is? What is your opinion and why?

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