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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 was buried in the expensive glass coffin?

2. To what ailment does Russell's mother succumb?

3. What two types of people does Russell feel are forever disconnected?

4. What was Benjamin's major flaw, according to Lucy?

5. Why has Oluf left Newark?

Short Essay Questions

1. Since he is unable to talk with his ailing mother, what does Russell realize about the past?

2. Explain the family's long lost fortune.

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

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

5. Who is Aunt Pat and why is Russell fond of her?

6. What is Lucy Elizabeth's greatest wish for Russell, and how does she help him strive for his goals?

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

8. What is Russell's earliest memory?

9. Who is Oluf?

10. What does Uncle Edwin do for a living?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Russell and Doris spend much of their childhood with Uncle Allen and Aunt Pat. Why does the family move in with them? Are they happy to have their relatives come? Why or why not? Why does Russell view them as an odd couple? What does Russell learn from Aunt Pat and Uncle Allen? What does Russell learn from Uncle Charlie and Uncle Hal?

Essay Topic 2

For most of Russell's life, Lucy has been his ultimate teacher. What happened to their relationship when he begins to surpass her education? Examine the subtleties between mother and son, including the Latin translation incident. What is young Russell trying to prove to his mother? Does Lucy recognize Russell's behavior? Explain your answer.

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.

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This section contains 675 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample