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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. Paul becomes obsessed with counting __________.

2. Who is the first non-law enforcement person to be chased off the property?

3. What kind of infection does Paul get?

4. What item does Paul steal from the cellar?

5. What word does Annie use when talking about healing time?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Paul go after escaping the bedroom? Why?

2. Explain the book found on the coffee table in the living room. What does the book contain?

3. What makes Paul question if Annie is really dead?

4. How does Paul feel when he tells Annie the book is finished?

5. How does Annie's behavior change drastically during this time?

6. Paul tries to explain "the gotta" to Annie. What is the gotta?

7. How does Paul explain the process of writing to Annie?

8. What does Paul mean when he says he has become his own Scheherazade?

9. What is Paul's biggest fear after the incident involving the troopers? What does Paul say to Annie?

10. Why does Annie leave Paul in the cellar?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine Paul Sheldon's car accident. When and where does the accident occur? What type of car is Sheldon driving when he has the accident? What causes the accident? Who saves Paul Sheldon? What makes Paul's rescue one of the worst things that has ever happened to him? What might have happened if Paul had not been rescued?

Essay Topic 2

Paul often pictures Annie in the courtroom. Describe the scene. Why is Annie in court? Has she been charged, indicted or convicted of a crime? If so, what? Where is the courtroom? Who else is present? What is Annie's demeanor? Why does the image seem to haunt Paul? Is the courtroom scene a fabrication of Paul's imagination, or is it accurate? What does Annie tell Paul about the trial? What is the outcome? How does it affect Annie both personally and professionally?

Essay Topic 3

As a writer, Paul Sheldon must face writer's block. What is writer's block? What causes it? What brings it on in Paul's case? Is it a lack of interest or inspiration? Where does Paul get his inspiration? What types of things might a writer do to break writer's block? How long does it last for Paul? What does Paul create after he finally breaks through the barrier?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 820 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample