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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 on Tothero's body does Margaret strike him at dinner?

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

3. What does Eccles invite Harry to do with him on Tuesday?

4. Where had Janice initially thought Rabbit was when he did not return?

5. Where is Rabbit's intended destination?

Short Essay Questions

1. What excuse does Janice make to her father regarding Harry?

2. What disagreement do Harry and Ruth have regarding religion?

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

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

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

6. Describe Nelson Angstrom.

7. Describe Ruth's high school relationship with Harrison.

8. Describe Harry Angstrom.

9. Describe Rabbit's run to the hospital.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

If Harry Angstrom is a child in a man's body, Ruth Leonard becomes a woman very early in her life. She is the pragmatic center of the novel, a survivor. Write an essay about Ruth's objectives throughout the novel. Why does she decide to take Harry back to her apartment, and why does she let him stay? What in her past has prepared her for the worst this man can offer? What does she do when she realizes he has left her, and how does she react when he returns?

Essay Topic 2

Harry Angstrom is a classic American man-child, a grown figure who has not been able to develop emotionally past his adolescence. Write an essay about the stunted development of Harry, focusing on his relationship to those older than him and to women. Who does he look to for guidance, and how does he expect it to be given? What is his attitude toward sex and fidelity?

Essay Topic 3

Jack Eccles is one of the more dynamic figures in the novel. He represents a new attitude toward religion and its place in a modern world. Write an essay about Jack Eccles and his struggle with both the extremely traditional view of his vocation (as represented by Reverend Kruppenbach) and the secular modernist view (as represented by his wife). How does Eccles' relationship with Harry make manifest this inner struggle to understand his own faith?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 860 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample