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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. Who is Barbara Stratford?

2. What does Mrs. Galvez say the Yippies did in an earlier decade?

3. What is Marcus doing when Masha wakes?

4. Whose attention has the gathering at the Civic Center caught?

5. What does Marcus' father tell him to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Marcus respond to Mrs. Anderson's opinion on the Bill of Rights and what happens to him?

2. What instructions does Dr Eeevil give Marcus?

3. Why are Ange and Marcus upset and what do they decide to do about it?

4. What happens to break up the concert?

5. What does Mrs. Galvez talk about in her class?

6. How does Marcus ensure that the keys are safe?

7. Who helps Marcus when he has gotten away from Masha and does not know where to go that is safe?

8. How do the party goers respond at first and what does Marcus and Jolu tell them to convince them to join the keysigning?

9. How does Marcus realize that the quote Ange said at the party is not spoken by Ange spontaneously the night of the party?

10. How is Marcus rescued by the California Highway Patrol?

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

Over the course of "Little Brother", Marcus grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. "Little Brother" might be considered a slice of Marcus's larger story of his "coming of age." It might be said that the story is a "bildungsroman" of Marcus Yallow. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Marcus as he changes from a more carefree, innocent boy to a wiser, young man. What are the significant events that change Marcus?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Rick's growth throughout "Little Brother", do you think "Little Brother" could be considered Marcus's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in this story who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

(see the answer keys)

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