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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. As he drives, what does Rabbit recall Tothero convincing him to do more often on the court?

2. From what television show does Rabbit admit stealing his religious analogy about the tree and the waterfall?

3. Who does Harry think Lucy Eccles is when he arrives at her house?

4. In what month does this section of reading take place?

5. Where does Rabbit brag about having eaten Chinese food?

Short Essay Questions

1. What has Rabbit decided about Ruth by the end of this section?

2. What is Harry's work situation after he returns home?

3. Describe Janice Angstrom.

4. In what state is Janice when Harry comes to her room?

5. What job does Ruth now have and why did she get it?

6. How does Harry interact with Mrs. Springer after coming home?

7. Why does Harry resent Ruth's going to the bathroom after sex?

8. How does Ruth respond to Harry's decision to join his wife in the hospital?

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

10. What does Harry realize about Tothero as they leave the Sunshine gym?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Midway through the novel, Harry Angstrom is completely at ease with his abandonment of his family. He believes that the universe wants him to seek out his own way, and to hell with the rest. Write an essay charting Harry's attitude toward personal responsibility, Who does he think pays the price for his decisions? What occurs that makes him change his mind? What is his attitude at the end of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Harry Angstrom feels terrorized by both his parents and his in-laws. They, in turn, are sharply and painfully divided in their opinions to of his actions. Write an essay regarding the parents in RABBIT, RUN, dividing them into those that fiercely support Harry and those that grow to revile him. Why do some stick by him? What does he mean to these people?

Essay Topic 3

Updike's novel is the story of a man unable to commit to any way of life for fear that a better option exists somewhere else. Write an essay about this fear, focusing on three of Rabbit's frantic flights:

Part 1) At the beginning of the novel, Rabbit abruptly abandons his family to drive south. What is he hoping to find on this journey? Why does it fail? How does Rabbit's interaction with a gas station attendant portend this failure?

Part 2) Why does Rabbit decide to leave Ruth? What does he think he leaves behind with this abandonment? What does he leave behind in reality?

Part 3) The final pages of Rabbit, Run contain a frantic flight in all directions for the protagonist. What is he trying to escape? How do neither of his two homes contain this goal? Where is Rabbit left at the end of the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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