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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 John really want to do with his life?

2. Does Kate think she can change?

3. What does Aunt Emily think of her family?

4. What does John give up?

5. How does Sam entertain the family?

Short Essay Questions

1. When John talks to Kate, what does she say she was really trying to do?

2. Who is waiting for John when he arrives at Aunt Emily's house?

3. Why does John flirt with Joyce?

4. What has happened since John last saw Kate?

5. What does John ask Kate to deliver for him?

6. Why is Aunt Emily upset with John at the beginning of the chapter?

7. What does John reveal to Aunt Emily?

8. What does Aunt Emily ask of John?

9. What does John realize about his life search?

10. What is Kate's test after Lonnie dies?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1. Freedom is another central theme of the novel. Both John and Kate struggle to find their own independence in different ways. How are John and Kate's searches for independence similar?

2. Describe how John's assertion of manhood and determination to create a relationship with Kate, leads to Kate's oppression.

3. Is this John or Kate's fault?

Essay Topic 2

While the women in John's life obviously make demands of him, the men seem to impose little on John. What is the deeper connection between John and the following characters:

- Lonnie

- John's father

- Harold

Essay Topic 3

John's longing for a deep and close relationship with a woman is constantly explored throughout the book:

1. Who does John attempt to create relationships? Why does he choose these types of women to go after?

2. How does John's relationship with Aunt Emily, his mother, and Kate, hinder his ability to create healthy relationships with other women?

3. How does John's relationship with movies and being a moviegoer stop him from building relationships.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 697 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample