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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. What is the Reverend's nickname?

2. Who calls the family together for a conference?

3. What does Harry say he wants to pump it in and die like?

4. What kind of singer sings at the buffet?

5. What does Harry think his wife and their friends will tease him about?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Harry remember about his bedside table drawer?

2. What does Janice tell Harry when they come back from the party?

3. How does Harry's night with Thelma change him?

4. What does Ma Springer call the family into the living room to talk about?

5. Why is Harry thankful that Janice does not talk about Cindy?

6. Why does Harry have to go along with Bessie and Janice's idea to take on Nelson?

7. What does Charlie say about the business?

8. How does Pru injure herself?

9. What lie does Harry tell Charlie?

10. Why does Nelson like Pru?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a 500-word essay revolving around one of the following statements:

1) John Updike celebrates American middle class life and presents Harry as having no conflict with being part of the middle classes, despite his working class background.

2) Even in middle-age Harry is emotionally immature and refuses to understand his son.

3) Nelson's relationship with Harry is too cliché to have any emotional impact on the reader.

Essay Topic 2

Pick a character from the novel and discuss their goals and motives. Do they achieve their motive? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters? How do the characters goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the books reception in three different countries including the country the book was written. How do their opinions about the books differ? Was the book more influential in one country than another? If so, why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 809 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample