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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 does Harry caution Peyton about on their wedding day?

2. To what city do Helen and Maudie travel in November of 1942?

3. Who does Milton run into in Charlottesville?

4. Where had Peyton been for three months in Milton's flashback?

5. Why does Helen take Maudie on the trip in #118?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Peyton and Harry's first night as a married couple mirror Milton and Helen's marriage?

2. Who does Helen blame for Maudie's death?

3. What is ironic about La Ruth's outburst on the day of Peyton's funeral?

4. In addition to the other parent/child relationships in the novel, how does Carey Carr's personal story fit in?

5. What news does Helen have about Maudie and why is she so angry at Milton and Peyton when they finally return to the hospital?

6. What comment does Helen make to Carey as they leave for the cemetery which acts as foreshadowing?

7. What does Dick do while Helen and Maudie are out of town and he has the house to himself?

8. Does Helen seek out Carey for her belief in God or something else?

9. What was the nature of Helen's meeting with Dolly at the tearoom?

10. What does Milton remember about the Christmas of 1941?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Styron uses more than one instance of irony in the book. Cite at least two examples you can identify in the novel and note why they are examples of irony.

Essay Topic 2

Create a brief character study of Helen. What does she look like? What are her positive personality traits? What are some of her negative characteristics? What are her hopes and fears? What motivates her--if anything--at this point in her life?

Essay Topic 3

Create a brief character study of Milton. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him--if anything--at this point in his life?

(see the answer keys)

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