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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 bothers Will the most?

2. What is the name of the road Maggie lives on?

3. Where did Maggie take Jennie hiking?

4. What nationality are the men who heckled him in the bar?

5. What is Maggie afraid he will do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Norma finally get the groundskeeper from the Lake Club to admit?

2. What mistake does Suzanne make when the shooting for Primrose is over?

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

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

5. What is the first inkling Maggie has that Will could be violent with her?

6. What irritated Will the most about life?

7. How long after Patrick's death does Nathan Bailford wait before going to see Maggie and why does he finally go?

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

9. What does Maggie learn in Tarrytown that rattles her?

10. What does Peter say on the stand that he hopes will hang Maggie?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Parents are often willing to make extreme sacrifices for their children. In this novel, what examples of this are found? What is the basis for the connection that enables a parent to make an ultimate sacrifice for the sake of their child? Is this a normal or usual relationship? Would any parent be willing to make this sacrifice or does this require a special circumstance or balance between the child and the parent? Is this more likely to be the case where the parent is single with children? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Greed is powerful motivation for extreme behavior. Which characters exhibit greed in this novel and how? What are the circumstances that make greed an issue and what is at stake? How does this greed manifest itself? What kinds of parallels do we see every day in real life where greed is directly responsible for extreme behavior? Give some examples of greed in high powered positions in life.

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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