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

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens after Roy makes an important decision during the last inning of the pennant game?

2. What does Iris tell Roy when he accidentally hits her with a foul ball that goes into the stands?

3. What is Roy's reaction after he finally reads Iris's letter?

4. In making his decision whether or not to accept The Judge's offer, what is the one thing Roy considers?

5. How does Roy react to the children among the fans?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Roy's relationship with Memo and Iris. In what ways do they parallel, and in what ways are they opposite? What role does each play in Roy's life?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Dreams appear throughout The Natural. Choose a couple of scenes including dreams and discuss how the dream scene relates to the overall narrative and its themes.

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This section contains 327 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample