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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. In his first job, for what company does Russell work?

2. To what brotherhood did Grandfather George belong?

3. Where does Uncle Allen get his $30-a-week job?

4. What musical lessons does Russell begin after a door-to-door salesman visits their house?

5. When Russell was a young boy, what famous President's time could many of the old men remember (from first-hand accounts)?

Short Essay Questions

1. What has happened to Russell's mother?

2. Explain the family's long lost fortune.

3. What is ironic about Russell's first appearance in print?

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

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

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

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

8. What does Uncle Edwin do for a living?

9. Where does the family move after Morrisonville?

10. How does Lucy punish Russell when he misbehaves?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novel has a huge list of characters. Choose four characters and write about how they influence Russell's life, worldview, personality, etc. Each character should have at least one full paragraph devoted to them. If you use quotations from the text be sure to cite your sources.

Essay Topic 2

In Chapters 1 and 2, Russell questions the disconnect between parents and children by comparing his children to himself as a child.

1) Do you think such a disconnect exists? Why or why not?

2) Explain your answer using examples from the text.

3) What did Russell learn about his parents later in life? How could the new information help inform his writing process?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the juxtaposition between Russell and Lucy's letters while he is based in Pensacola.

1) What do the two talk about in the letters?

2) What world events are taking place around them?

3) What is Russell's main focus at this time?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 578 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample