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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 Helen’s grandmother tell her she would do if she loved something?

2. What was Francis’ job when he was living with Helen?

3. What does Rosskam invite Francis to watch?

4. What is William Kennedy using when he says that Helen’s money is the last twelve dollars of her life?

5. How does the narrator characterize Rosskam?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the narrative change in Chapter 5?

2. Why is Helen angry with Francis, when she thinks about him in the hotel?

3. How did Helen’s mother and brother cheat her?

4. What prompts Francis to get down from Rosskam’s wagon and quit for the day?

5. Why does Helen say that she and Francis could not marry?

6. What was Francis’ mother’s relationship with Katrina Daugherty like?

7. What does Francis buy from Rosskam, and what is its significance?

8. What kind of peace does Francis make with Annie?

9. Describe Helen’s relationship with Arthur.

10. Who was Katrina Daugherty and what was her role in Francis’ life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The American novel is typically centered on a character who believes in a fundamental innocence, and goes into the world to have experiences and find him or herself—but Ironweed is centered on Francis’ guilt over any number of things. How does Ironweed fit in the American canon?

Essay Topic 2

Is Francis redeemed by the events described in Ironweed, or is he left unredeemed? What obstacles to his redemption has he overcome? What obstacles remain? What spiritual state does Francis aspire to, and what does he do to attain that state?

Essay Topic 3

Is Francis a hero or an anti-hero? Where does Francis fit in the continuum of other characters in literature? Compare and contrast Francis’ character with two other main characters in American literature.

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