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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What does Ike ask his father when he picks them up?
2. Where does Maggie see Harold?
3. Why does Mrs. Stearns give Ike and Bobby a key to her house?
4. What does Sharlene try to do when Russell forces the boys into his car?
5. What does Judy ask Guthrie?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Discuss the following:
1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?
2. Analyze and discuss Plainsong based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Plainsong is a successful novel. Explain your rationale with specific examples.
3. Do you think the fact that Plainsong is primarily for entertainment changes the criteria upon which its success should be judged? Explain.
Essay Topic 2
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 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.
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This section contains 456 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) |
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