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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. When John sees his family is already at the camp, how does he feel?

2. Why does John like to read these sorts of books?

3. What is Walter too busy with to attend to Kate?

4. What does John decide to undertake on his bus ride to Elysian Fields?

5. Why does John go into the office early at the beginning of Chapter 2?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Kate decide to do about her therapist?

2. Where do the two decide to go once at the Gulf Coast and why is John surprised when they arrive?

3. What is very apparent about John and Aunt Emily's relationship?

4. The novel opens with John receiving some bad news. What is it?

5. How does John feel about Walter, Kate's fiance?

6. Does John have anything in common with his mother?

7. What does John do in order to escape from his life?

8. What important decision does John make that turns out to be a good idea?

9. Why is Lonnie fasting?

10. What kind of books does John like to read at the library?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Kate claims that she wanted to feel numb when she took all the sleeping pills. Compare the feeling of numbness with the excitement that Kate feels when she goes to Chicago.

As the novel ends, does Kate give up on her search for independence? Or is she only willing to have a certain kind of independence?

Essay Topic 2

1. How is the theme of money inadvertently explored throughout the book?

2. John's family seems to be a staple of New Orleans society. How does having money make the family influential to the rest of the community?

Essay Topic 3

1. John watches movie and television shows to escape his everyday, ordinary life in New Orleans, Louisiana. How does watching movies help John to escape? Why do you think John needs an escape from his life? What aspects might he want to leave behind?

2. Compare and Contrast John's feelings about movies and Lonnie's view of movies.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 712 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample