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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. With which of the following characters is Big Henry having an affair?

2. What does Henry's father do when he arrives at the hospital?

3. What did Henry's family often do on Sunday's when his grandmother didn't visit?

4. What do Frank and Henry sell to the Jewish ladies who sit on the benches at the beach?

5. Why does the doctor say that Big Henry should not blame Henry for the car accident?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Henry asks to be excused from dinner because he is in too much pain to eat?

2. How can the reader infer that Aunt Anna and her family need money to buy food?

3. Why wouldn't Big Henry allow Henry's mother to give Aunt Anna money when they obviously needed some to buy food?

4. What is odd about the first afternoon that David and Henry walk home from school together?

5. Though Big Henry and Katherine have been married for a number of years, what new information did Katherine learn about her husband?

6. What does Henry talk about in relation to the boys at his grammar school?

7. What sins does Henry make up when he can't think of anything he's done wrong during confession?

8. Why won't Big Henry's dream of moving to the South Seas and never working again be realized?

9. What events transpired which led Henry to be sent to the principal's office?

10. What does Henry's grandfather give him that is important to him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Henry often wants to do the right thing in the novel, but is unable to do it. Write about at least one example of this in the novel and be sure to describe the reaction Henry wants to complete but does not. What would you do in the same situation? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Henry has a very low opinion of his future at the end of the novel. Why do you believe this is the case? Do you think his feelings are justified? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The character of Jimmy desperately wants to be friends with Henry. How does Jimmy show this? Do you think it helps or hurts his chances of being friends with Henry? Would you be friends with Jimmy? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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