View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What idea does White speak against while in Washington?

2. In his January, 1942 letter to Katharine, how does White describe his meeting with the assembled team in Washington?

3. Which Supreme Court Justice does White reference in his letters during his time in Washington?

4. According to White's letter to Katharine, what is "man's ancient privilege"?

5. Where were E.B. White's parents born?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does White write about his brother, Stanley, and his sister, Lillian?

2. What complications does Katharine have while giving birth to their son in 1931?

3. What description does White provide of his wedding?

4. How does White discuss his interest in movies with Stanley in a March, 1937 letter?

5. How does White discover the New Yorker?

6. How does White begin writing for the New Yorker, and what does he do once his position becomes permanent?

7. What is Katharine Angell's background?

8. Why did White first begin writing during his childhood?

9. What is the New York Herald Tribune's response to White's letter, and how does he reply?

10. What happens in 1941 that leads to White's work in Washington?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Charlotte's Web" is considered to be White's most popular book and one of the most recognized children's stories for several reasons.

1) Describe White's farm and the inspiration behind the ideas that formed "Charlotte's Web".

2) Explain White's concerns with the illustrations for the book, "Charlotte's Web", and how he resolves them with his publisher.

3) Describe the issues that White has with the cover art for the book, "Charlotte's Web", the suggestions and advice that he gives to his publisher, and why the advice is particularly appropriate.

4) Analyze White's reaction to the success of "Charlotte's Web", and whether or not he is surprised that it connects with children in such a huge way.

Essay Topic 2

Katharine passes away and her legacy is secured as White contributes to his own biography towards the end of his life.

1) Describe the change in White's writing after Katharine passes away, how her literary effects help establish her legacy, and the way her book, "Onward and Upward in the Garden" is published.

2) Explain the contributions that White makes to his biography as it is being written and his opinion of the finished book.

3) Analyze the ways that E.B. White will be remembered along with the impact of his work in writing and entertainment.

Essay Topic 3

White answers a number of letters and questions from students about writing and education in general.

1) Describe White's explanation of the process for writing a book to a fourth-grade class in Columbus, Ohio.

2) Explain White's advice to a depressed college student as well as his advice to a confused senior, and his comments about his own writing identity.

3) Compare and contrast the advice that he gives to his granddaughter, Martha, with the responses that he sends to other college students.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,004 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample