View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Approximately how old does Amalia say she is at the time of Norm's death?

2. How does Rob describe his sexual identity?

3. How much younger is Amalia than her eldest stepson?

4. What is the house theme at the DJD house?

5. How old is Norm when he dies?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Norm described in 2005? What is his relationship with Penny like based on this scene?

2. Where is the opening scene of the novel set? What is the significance of this setting?

3. Who are the inhabitants at Nicotine when Penny first visits?

4. What are Penny's impressions when she goes to the Stayfree house with Sorry for a potluck?

5. Why is Norm's childhood home called "Nicotine"?

6. Who is Rob and how does Penny meet him?

7. What are Norm's circumstances in 2016? Where is he?

8. What happens when Norm encounters Schubert in 2016? How does Penny interpret this action?

9. Where is Norm's childhood home located? What is its history?

10. What happens when Matt comes to confront the squatters at Nicotine the first time?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the narrative style of Nicotine. Is the story related in the present or past tense? Is the narrative from a first, second, or third-person point of view? How do these factors influence the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the journey made by Rob, Jazz, and Sorry in the novel. Where do they go? Why are they fleeing Jersey City? What destination do they finally arrive at? Where do they go in the ending of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Identify and discuss three symbols in Nicotine. What does each symbol represent? How does the symbol connect to the novel's overarching themes? What characters are connected to each symbol?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 786 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample