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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 was Jack Boughton's original name to have been?

2. What baseball team does Jack Boughton favor?

3. What did John's son recite to him twice on John's birthday?

4. What confession does John make about Jack as part of a burden of guilt he feels?

5. What incident in Jack Boughton's life does John recount that happened while Jack was still in college?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does John attempt to love Jack?

2. John states that he doesn't forgive Jack, writing "I wouldn't know were to begin." What provokes this statement?

3. Describe Della's family situation.

4. What does John believe about the soul in Paradise?

5. What are John's thoughts on "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine"?

6. How does John describe the responsibility that comes from encountering another person?

7. What is the nature of the discussion John and Jack have about predestination?

8. John writes an extensive contemplation of the Ten Commandments, focusing on the Fifth Commandment. What are some of his thoughts?

9. How does John recall Jack's baptism?

10. What is the content of the conversation that Jack and Lila have as John feigns being asleep?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare John's relationship to his son to the relationship John had with his father. Discuss the similarities and differences. Was John sorry for the way he was brought up by his father? Does John have any regrets as to how he is bringing up his own son? Discuss.

Essay Topic 2

In the first section of the book, pages 1 - 8, discuss what expositional elements emerge. Identify and describe the thematic and narrative foundations found in this section and how these themes are carried through the rest of the novel. Select and describe what you think is the central theme of the book.

Essay Topic 3

The last section of the book, pagers 233 - 247, contains the book's climax. There are three stages to this climax. Identify and discuss each one of these stages.

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