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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. Where does Ned find Mr. Scully one day?

2. What does Nurse Clay tell Ned?

3. What does Ned think about Mr. Scully when he goes to see him one day?

4. How does Mrs. Scallop feel about her new job?

5. What does Ned realize about Mr. Scully and Ned's confession?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Ned stop at Mr. Scully's house and what does he find?

2. What will Mr. Willis start doing for Mr. Scully and why?

3. What does Mr. Scully say to Ned about the one-eyed cat?

4. What do Ned and his mother see playing by the light of the moon and then what arrives?

5. Where does Ned find Mr. Scully one afternoon and what does Ned do?

6. After he recovers from his illness, where does Ned often go and what does he do there?

7. With whom does Ned get into a fight and why?

8. What is Mama's good news and how does Ned respond?

9. Where is Mr. Scully taken and what is probably wrong with him?

10. Where does Ned go one moonlit night and who follows him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

1. Research the history of the United States during the Depression era, which is the setting for "One-Eyed Cat". Write a summary of what you learn that you think is relevant to understanding the life of Ned, his family and friends.

2. Research the setting of the Hudson River Valley. Compare/contrast life in the Hudson River Valley of the 1930s with that of the first decade of the 21st century.

3. Do you believe it makes for a more sophisticated and enjoyable reading of a book such as "One-Eyed Cat" to understand the basic cultural forces at play in the book? Explain fully with examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast Ned at the beginning of the novel to Ned at the end of the novel. How are they alike? How are they different? Are they both sympathetic characters? Which "Ned" would you most like to have as a friend? Why? Is each one believable? Why or why not.

2. Compare/contrast Evelyn at the beginning of the novel to Evelyn at the end of the novel. How are they alike? How are they different? Are they sympathetic characters? Who would you most likely have as a friend? Why? Is each one believable? Why or why not.

3. Compare/contrast Ned to Billy. How are they alike? How are they different? Are they sympathetic characters? Who would you most likely have as a friend? Why? Is each one believable? Why or why not.

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