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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 does Ruth find odd about Rabbit's underpants?

2. What drink is Janis drinking when Harry returns home?

3. For what ostensible expense does Harry give Ruth fifteen dollars at the end of dinner?

4. On what holiday do Ruth and Harry go swimming in this section?

5. How does Tothero compare Ruth to Margaret?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Harry take off his shoes on his walk up Mt. Judge?

2. What is Jack Eccles supposed to be doing instead of playing golf?

3. What factors cause Harry to storm out of Club Castanet?

4. What non-Christian statement does Mrs. Smith regret making?

5. Why does Rabbit leave his car at Janice's apartment?

6. Describe Tothero's living arrangements.

7. How is Harry greeted at the hospital?

8. How does Harry find out that his child has died?

9. Why does Ruth insist that Rabbit has it made in life?

10. What does Harry Angstrom confess to Eccles that he believes is his place in the universe?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novel RABBIT, RUN contains much discussion of the elusive nature of faith. Harry struggles with the idea of the divine for a long time, unable to explain it to anyone, even himself. Write an essay on faith in the novel, in three parts:

Part 1) Ruth, an agnostic, is sickened by the church across the street from her apartment. How does Harry defend the idea of God in both her apartment and atop Mt. Judge? What was he raised believing?

Part 2) As Jack Eccles and Harry play golf, Harry explains the reason for his leaving home. To what extent is Harry's initial journey from his family a religious pilgrimage? What does he seek?

Part 3) Examine how the death of Rebecca Angstrom affects Harry's faith. How does he reconcile his notion of God with the senseless death of his child?

Essay Topic 2

Updike spends quite a bit of time in the novel dealing with the mechanics and politics of sexual intercourse. Write an essay comparing his two extended sex scenes: Harry's first night with Ruth Leonard, and Harry's aborted attempt to have sex with Janice after she gives birth. What does Harry want in these scenes? What do the women want? How does each participant try to gain the upper hand? What is Updike saying about the nature of inter-gender communication?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about the theme of forgiveness in the novel. Harry Angstrom is constantly relying upon the willingness of people around him to forgive him his transgressions. Who refuses this forgiveness? Who is willing to give him more leeway, and how does he repay this good faith? Do people who forgive him in the novel seem naive? To what extent does the world consider Harry an exception?

(see the answer keys)

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