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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 is NOT an action Håkan takes when he is finally allowed to help the injured boy?

2. What animal does Håkan describe as having a head completely out of proportion with its body?

3. Håkan wears a coat anchored by the hide of what animal?

4. Håkan's experience being bitten by a snake causes him to discover that he fears what element?

5. Håkan discovers that Jarvis had been elected captain of the caravan after promising many people what reward?

Short Essay Questions

1. What skills inherited from Lorimer does Håkan put to use at the scene of the wagon accident?

2. Describe the way in which Håkan first meets Asa.

3. Describe the way in which Håkan views the event he consistently calls "the killings" (130) throughout the narrative.

4. What does Hakan observe about Jarvis's reputation among the caravan's members?

5. How is the theme of violence portrayed within the sheriff's interaction with Håkan?

6. What characteristic of Asa makes a deep impression on Håkan?

7. How does Håkan feel when he discovers a rocking chair in the middle of the wilderness?

8. In what way is the sheriff's corruption the key to Håkan's freedom?

9. For what purpose does Diaz employ character foils within Håkan's period of captivity?

10. What is the significance of the wooden dresser Håkan finds in the desert?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Could In the Distance be classified as a coming-of-age novel? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

How are the topics of affection, love, and friendship treated within the novel In the Distance and how does their treatment relate to the novel's depicted messages?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the instances of irony within the narrative of In the Distance and analyze Diaz’s purpose for including each instance you discuss.

(see the answer keys)

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