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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 Grandpa take the children after his Good Friday performance?

2. How do the children get around the night watchman on "The Amberjack"?

3. What does Luke blow up?

4. How does Luke advise Tom on winning the fight?

5. Why does Lila insist that Tom remain silent about the past?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the ramifications of the divorce proceedings?

2. Why does Tom decide to tell Dr. Lowenstein about the fateful day on the island?

3. Why does Henry help "The Amberjack"?

4. What plans do the Wingo children have after graduation?

5. Why does Tom find the map on Reese Newbury's wall disconcerting?

6. What might the appearance of Snow symbolize?

7. What feelings do the townspeople have toward Amos?

8. Why is Tom jealous of Savannah in Chapter 18?

9. What is different, according to Susan, about the way Bernard interacts with Tom and his father?

10. What does Tom realize after reading the first page of Renata's book?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What role do racism and bigotry play in the novel? Discuss specific examples of racism and bigotry in the novel and how it affects the overall ideas presented in the narrative.

Essay Topic 2

In the final image of the novel, we see the Wingo family (minus Luke) reunited on a shrimping boat, much as they were in the novel's opening. Do you think the Wingo family has overcome its traumatic past and finally begun to heal?

Write a persuasive essay that develops your point of view on this topic. Be sure to use specific and sound reasoning from the text to support your position.

Essay Topic 3

A theme and concern among many Southern writers is the collapse of the "Old South." William Faulkner, for example, dealt with this issue numerous times in his novels and short stories. Pat Conroy also seems to be making a statement about the South and its destruction through the traumatic events of the Wingo children.

Write a thematic essay in which you trace Conroy's treatment of the South and its collapse throughout the novel. Some questions to consider are: What seems to be the author's view of the South? How does he represent the South throughout his narrative? Does the end of the novel seem indicative of a resurrection of the Old South or are the traditions and ways of the past lost forever in the wake of progress and development?

(see the answer keys)

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