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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. Why is Marcus' father angry?

2. What does Marcus worry about when he sets up his xbox that evening?

3. Who is Charles Walker?

4. How do the friends learn about what happened in the city?

5. Where does Marcus find himself when he is taken out of the jeep and moved?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the confrontation between Marcus and Benson.

2. Who is Charles and how do Marcus and Darryl distract him?

3. What does Marcus ask of the woman with the severe haircut, and what is her response?

4. How have Marcus' activities been monitored and how does he feel about that?

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

6. How does Marcus anger the police on the way to his house and what does he do about it?

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

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

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

10. Who does Marcus believe has taken them and how does he discover the truth?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which three secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Little Brother belongs to the political science fiction genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the political science fiction genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a political science fiction and a historical novel mystery?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in "Little Brother". Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of courage in "Little Brother". Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of freedom in "Little Brother". Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with freedom? Why? What are some symbols of freedom? Symbols of control? What characters seem free?

(see the answer keys)

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