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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. Does King believe the reader see the image in the same way as the author?

2. When does King begin to write stories?

3. In the chapter, C.V., King touches on the theme of the book. What is this theme?

4. Where on the animal is something unusual attached?

5. According to King, what is the second condition that, if readers cannot accept, should be a reason to stop reading his book?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does King want his readers to put his book down if they are unable to accept that writing is magic?

2. In what ways is the rabbit on the table of symbol of King's belief in magic and telepathy? Explain in your own words.

3. How did King learn to edit his work? Why was this important to the young writer?

4. In what way is the book, On Writing, to be different from King's usual work?

5. What conclusions can you draw from King's comparison of writing as a career versus writing as a passion? Explain in your own words.

6. King was a heavy drinker and addicted to cocaine. He believed that these two elements contributed to his creativity. In terms of the chapter, C.V., do you think his belief was justified? Why or why not?

7. What are some of the things King remembers from his childhood? How might they have affected his writing?

8. What relationship is there between writing as a career and writing as a passion? Explain in your own words.

9. How did King begin his career as a writer?

10. One of King's babysitters was particularly cruel. How might she have affected his later writings?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

King is a prolific writer yet he mentions writer's block in several places in the book, On Writing. Do you think this has been a hindrance in King's writing? What judgment would you make about King's frustration with writer's block? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

King states that good writers can improve, but bad writers will never be good writers.How can good writers improve? Why won't bad writers improve? Cite reasons from the text to support your argument.

Essay Topic 3

King has been called a hack. He defends himself by saying that throughout history, other who were called hacks, are now considered important writers. How would you evaluate King's body of work, especially the book, On Writing?

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