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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. Who does Ned like to visit regularly?

2. What does Mrs. Scallop tell Ned about his birth?

3. What does Ned notice about the things Doris sent for the last three months?

4. What does Mr. Scully give Ned for Ned's birthday?

5. What did Ned feel on the day of the visit with his father years ago that he felt when he went out in the night?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the Wallis family gather downstairs during the night?

2. What confuses Ned about Mrs. Scallop?

3. Describe a couple things about Mr. Scully that makes him seem eccentric.

4. What does Ned's father instruct Ned about being a guest for supper at the Brewsters, and why does his father say that?

5. Describe a typical routine for Ned and Mr. Scully when Ned is over there.

6. What does Ned remember about life before his Mama becomes ill?

7. Where was Ned's favorite place to walk when he was very young?

8. How does Ned feel about having a meal with a family in his father's congregation?

9. What animal do Ned and Mr. Scully watch from the window and what does Ned do for the animal?

10. To whom does Ned deliver mail and a newspaper every day and why does Ned do so?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ned is eleven throughout much of the novel. Discuss the following:

1. What are some ways that Ned seems like an average eleven year old? Give examples and why you say his activities are average teen activities.

2. What are some ways that Ned seems older than his age of 11? Give specific examples and discuss whether they seem consistent with the character of Nest as she is developed throughout the book.

3. Research the activities of young teens during the era of the 1930s and compare/contrast it with that of young teens in the present. Does life for a teen in the 1930s seem significantly different? How so? How would you have liked to live as a teen in the 1930s? Explain fully using examples from your research.

Essay Topic 2

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as "One-Eyed Cat" help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading "One-Eyed Cat"? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in "One-Eyed Cat" to discuss and compare Ned's or some other character's response to how you think you would respond.

Essay Topic 3

Over the course of the story, Ned grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. "One-Eyed Cat" might be considered a slice of Ned's larger story of his "coming of age." It might be said that the story is a "bildungsroman" of Ned Willis. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Ned as he changes from a carefree, innocent boy to a sadder, but wiser, young man. What are the significant events that change Ned?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Ned's growth throughout the book, do you think "One-Eyed Cat" could be considered Ned's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in "One-Eyed Cat" who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

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