View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Tom do when he leaves Maggie's house?

2. Why does Tom leave the party?

3. What does Mrs. Stearns suggest the boys do at her house?

4. What is wrong with Ike's horse?

5. Why does Mrs. Stearns send Ike and Bobby to the store?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The only question Victoria has for the doctor is whether her baby is all right. Clearly she does want the baby. At this point it is difficult to say why Victoria wants to have the baby despite the hardships pregnancy and motherhood will cause. Perhaps because Victoria has never had a fulfilling family life she is ready to love a child of her own.

1. Discuss the reasons why Victoria might want to have her baby.

2. Do you think Victoria should keep her baby? Why or why not?

3. Discuss the pros and cons of a teenage girl having and keeping a baby.

Essay Topic 2

Plainsong, like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy (or at least optimistic) note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Plainsong and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Plainsong is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of change. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with change? Why? What are some symbols of change? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of mental/emotional illness. Which characters struggle with some sort of emotional illness? Why? Which characters seem really healthy emotionally/mentally? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death. How did the death of Ike and Bobby's horse affect them? What about Mrs. Stearns? How was their reaction to both deaths similar and different?

4. Discuss why Ella Guthrie moving to Denver was a type of death for the Guthrie family. Use examples from the book to illustrate your discussion.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 516 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample