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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 do the parents note about David's speech?

2. What did Johannes tell David about responsibility?

3. Who comes with David as he escapes the farmhouse?

4. What does Maria ask David to do?

5. Why doesn't David go back?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe how David escapes the stable.

2. What is the significance of David touching Maria?

3. Why does David hate being touched?

4. What does David realize about King's actions?

5. Explain why David is disheartened in this chapter.

6. Explain David's conversation with God when he realizes the farmer has bolted the door, and his resulting revelation.

7. Why does Giovanni respect David?

8. Explain David's opinion about ruling over others.

9. Explain how being kept a slave on the farm is beneficial to David.

10. Why does David stop caring consciously about what happens to him, and how does he manage to keep going?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the novel, "the man" comes to symbolize all things evil and cruel in the world. By the end of the novel, however, it is revealed that "the man" is likely the reason David is alive. Analyze this character in depth. Who is he? How did he treat David? Why did he treat him as he did? What is revealed about him toward the end of the novel? How did he actually help David? Why did he help David? What does this say about David's concept of what is bad?

Essay Topic 2

There are many references in the novel to the power of "them", without actual description of who "they" really are. Choose three instances where the author gives information about "them", and explain the reference in detail. What is said about "them"? What does the reference indicate about who "they" might be? How does the author use these vague descriptions to impose a feeling of unfocused dread?

Essay Topic 3

David's relationship with God grows through the novel from being non-existent to being one of the most vital relationships in his life. Describe each stage of this relationship in detail. How does David find God? How does he choose a God? How does he pray? How does he learn about God? What promises does he make to God, and what triumphs does he attribute to God? Does God succeed, to David, in helping him?

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