View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. To whom does the violin make Henderson feel closer?

2. What is the name of Henderson's guide?

3. With whom does Henderson observe the frogs?

4. From what kind of illness does Frances suffer?

5. What type of food does Henderson attempt to make?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Henderson react to the corpse in Chapter Eleven?

2. Why does Henderson feel depressed after the wrestling match?

3. Describe the meeting between Willatale and Henderson.

4. Describe Lily's life up to meeting Henderson?

5. How does the meeting with Willatale change Henderson?

6. How does Willatale describe Henderson?

7. Why does Henderson decide he must fight properly?

8. In what way is Henderson caught between Lily and Frances?

9. How do Lily and Henderson meet?

10. In what way is Willatale sympathetic to Henderson's plight?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Henderson the Rain King is a famous book which has greatly influenced modern literature. Choose a book written after The Rain King that you think was influenced by the novel and discuss there similarities in terms of

a) plot

b) character

c) themes.

Essay Topic 2

Henderson the Rain King is part of the philosophical genre.

1) What are the conventions of the philosophical genre in terms of character, language and plot?

2) In what way did Rain King help to set the template for similar novels? Do modern novels still use the ideas used in Rain King?

Essay Topic 3

Look at the following statement: "In order to cope and understand death, people need to have an understanding of their spiritual nature." Argue for or against the statement using examples from the novel.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 782 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample