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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 in the backseat of Joe Dale's car in Chapter 12?

2. What is the name of the stall superintendent at Indian Mound Downs?

3. Maggie tells Little Spinoza in Chapter 15 that sex is a form of what?

4. What is Tommy's mother's name?

5. Who are Tommy and Maggie unhappy to see watching the race in Chapter 8?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Earlie respond to his race riding Little Spinoza?

2. How has Two-Tie's behavior changed in Chapter 17? What are the impacts of the changes in Two-Tie's character?

3. What does Deucey relate to Maggie regarding luck in Chapter 2?

4. How did Medicine Ed get his name? What is revealed about Medicine Ed's history in Chapter 4?

5. What does the blue Cadillac come to represent in the narrative?

6. How is the horse named Little Spinoza regarded by the main characters in the novel?

7. What demand does Two-Tie make of Vernon during their phone conversation in Chapter 17? Why does he make this demand?

8. What are some examples of the author's use of simile in Chapter 1?

9. What is contained in Medicine Ed's red velvet bag? What is the purpose of this concoction?

10. How is the theme of luck explored in Chapter 1 of the novel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the themes of aging and death in the novel. How does the author develop these themes through the horses at the track? How is the theme developed through character and imagery? What characters face death in the story?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and discuss the character of Maggie in the novel. What is Maggie's history? What motivates Maggie to come to the racetrack? How does Maggie's character evolve in the course of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the character arc of Tommy in Lord of Misrule. How does Tommy's character change in the course of the story? What are the catalysts that propel these changes in Tommy? Do you think that Tommy is a protagonist or an antagonist in the novel? Why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 858 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample