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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 Robbie's grandfather say they are "sheltering...through a dark period" (6)?

2. What post-election acts did Robbie's grandparents find unsurprising?

3. What does Robbie's grandfather say is easy to think when reading history books?

4. What is Robbie's grandfather sure Robbie would say he would have done during the critical period?

5. What does Robbie's grandfather say those on the "other side" were "Ignorant of" (5)?

Short Essay Questions

1. What language does Robbie's grandfather use to describe the president, particularly when explaining why he did not think things could go so far?

2. Robbie's grandfather cites a list of things the happened post-election, including a series of pardons. What other things does he list?

3. In the end, what does Robbie's grandfather "advise" and "implore" (5) Robbie to do regarding J.? Why?

4. Why were Robbie's grandparents not "more extreme people" (5), according to him?

5. What "crude metaphor" (4) does Robbie's grandfather use to explain how he and his wife and others became inured to what was happening?

6. What does Robbie's grandfather say is easier to do when reading history books?

7. What does Robbie's grandfather say about organizing marches when discussing what he could have done during the critical period?

8. What are some of the things Robbie's grandparents tried to do during the critical period, before essentially giving up?

9. What happened in the dream Robbie's grandfather had the night before writing the letter?

10. What does Robbie's grandfather admit he regrets during the "critical period" (4) before the election?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Saunders’s focus on the theme of regret as presented in the story.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay analyzing Saunders's decision to tell the story from Robbie's grandfather's perspective. How does this impact the reader's understanding of the story's events? Is this effective? Why or why not? How would this story be different if told from Robbie's point of view?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay examining the ending of "Love Letter." How did the ending fit into the storyline? Do you think the ending was effective? What theme might the ending represent? What might the author have done differently?

(see the answer keys)

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