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

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Roy feel about Iris after he first meets her?

2. What does Roy wish for when the team gets into a major slump?

3. What ultimately brings about Roy's failure?

4. What does Roy do when Iris rejects him?

5. What does Roy think he will gain when he becomes the best player ever and gets Memo?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Roy Hobbs life is full of disasters, but many of which are of his own making. Should we feel sorry for him? Why or why not? Defend your answers with passages from the book.

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

Discuss how the unfolding of Roy's character throughout the novel is related to the seasonal aspects of the vegetative myths from Arthurian tales.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 278 words (approx. 1 page at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample