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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What advice does Pop give Roy to help him get out of the slump?

2. Who does Roy see in the stands while playing a game in Chicago?

3. After Roy gets out of his slump, where do the fans say he belongs?

4. What does Iris encourage Roy to do?

5. What does Roy say about Iris's appearance?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Malamud paints the ballplayers as "larger than life" in the novel. Discuss passages in the book where the reader can see ballplayers rendered in a majestic, larger-than-life, or deity-like manner.

Essay Topic 2

Age is a recurring theme in The Natural. Discuss how age enters into both the story and into the probable author's purpose. Use examples from the novel to prove your point. Include how Roy is alike/different at age fifteen and thirty-four.

Essay Topic 3

There is a tremendous amount of symbolism in Malamud's novel. Discuss two forms of symbolism and show how they develop the theme over the course of the novel. Answer the question of why Malamud might have chosen that symbol over other possible ones and whether he was effective in developing the theme. Give examples from the novel to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 340 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample