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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. What did the doctor show her before showing her Jennie's slipping grades?

2. What kind of help does Barry hire for Maggie's defense team?

3. How old is Maggie at this stage?

4. Who watches as Maggie leaves the courtroom a free woman?

5. How did Jennie feel about Will?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Maggie's state of mind when she sees Will at the hospital?

2. What does Palmer offer to do and why?

3. What is the first scene that Will is asked to play in Primrose?

4. What does Maggie discover that relieves her, but also takes away a large part of her defense?

5. What is Will's emotional state after the premiere and once he has returned home?

6. What is Will's demeanor when Palmer enters his room in Rio?

7. What happens on the night that Maggie shoots Will Shepherd?

8. What effect does this information have on Maggie's conviction?

9. What information is Norma Breen trying so hard to uncover and why?

10. How does Will feel about the way his relationship with Maggie is progressing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Rejection is difficult for many people to cope with, but it is particularly difficult for Will in this story. Why might he be more sensitive to the issue of rejection than someone else under similar circumstances? How far back can this problem be traced in Will's life? What is the root cause of his attitude towards rejection and who was directly responsible? Could this character flaw have been avoided even with his circumstances with both parents? If so, how, and if not, why not?

Essay Topic 2

Evil is evident in this novel on several layers. What evil is openly displayed and by which character or characters? What are some examples of more subtle evil? Which characters displayed these qualities? How does evil come into being? Are we born with it, or are the circumstances of our lives what make us become evil? What kinds of circumstances might make a person evil who did not start out that way?

Essay Topic 3

Vannie molests Will and ushers him into sexuality. How does this affect the way he treats women in his adult life? What is his attitude towards women? Why is it so unlikely that he will have a healthy relationship after Vannie abuses him? What should have happened to Vannie? If legal action had been taken, would Will have been any different with the women in his life? Why or why not? What damage is not likely undone without therapy if at all?

(see the answer keys)

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