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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. Who offers Lucy Elizabeth a home until she can get back on her feet?

2. What is Russell's job with this company?

3. What medicine does Aunt Pat insist on giving to Russell and Doris?

4. How much younger than Russell is Doris?

5. What does Russell's mother think is a major character flaw of his?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Lucy Elizabeth meet Benjamin?

2. What is Russell's earliest memory?

3. What did Lucy Elizabeth feel was her greatest failure with Benjamin?

4. What are some of the reasons Ida Rebecca dislikes Lucy Elizabeth?

5. How does the author describe his mother's attitude toward men?

6. When does Russell decide to become a writer?

7. In Belleville, what does Aunt Pat do to protest the landlady's Herbert Hoover poster?

8. Why has Uncle Charlie chosen never to leave the house?

9. Who finally bought Uncle Etch's glass coffin?

10. To whom does Lucy "give up" Audrey?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Much of the work is centered around Russell's education, both formal and informal. Write an essay highlighting what you feel are the three most important things that Russell learned to help him into adulthood and shaped him as a person. Be sure to use properly cited quotations from the text, and present your argument in paragraph form.

Essay Topic 2

Reexamine Chapter 3. Lucy comes of age in a turbulent time. Between what two personal and political ideas is she torn? How does this split manifest itself in her life, according to Russell's account? Provide at least three examples from the text. How has her upbringing contributed to these views?

Essay Topic 3

Though the novel is written by Russell, Lucy plays a huge role throughout the work. Who do you think is the novel's main character, Russell or Lucy? Be sure to examine the story's plot and style before coming to a decision. Be prepared to support your answer with textually based arguments.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 666 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample