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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. Of what does Vanessa accuse Marcus?

2. Where is Marcus having a party?

3. Where has there been a new posting according to a text message Marcus receives on his way to the office?

4. What does Marcus worry about concerning his attempt to screw the system?

5. What does Vanessa suggest?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the confrontation between Marcus' mother and the police.

2. How does Marcus explain his absence to his parents?

3. What does Marcus' father tell Marcus about how DHS is going to solve the problem of false positives?

4. Why does Jolu want to get out of the Xnet business?

5. Why do the three try to flag down a police car and who ultimately stops and what do they do?

6. What happens to anger Marcus' father and why does he apologize to Marcus?

7. About what does Marcus worry when he starts up his Xbox that evening and what does he decide to do about it?

8. What do each of the three friends think need to be done about what they endured?

9. Who joins Marcus and Darryl; where do they go and why does a girl take their pictures?

10. What suddenly happens as Marcus and his friends are talking with the girl who takes their picture?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of interesting questions raised by "Little Brother". Questions that Doctorow most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Doctorow' agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Doctorow' probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Doctorow and see if/where his life may have influenced his writing.

Essay Topic 2

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Cory Doctorow.

2. What in Doctorow's background may have helped him in writing "Little Brother"? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in "Little Brother". Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Doctorow chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Doctorow chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Doctorow's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, cliffhangers, deux ex machina, etc.), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Doctorow use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

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