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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What part of Lucy Eccles' appearance does Rabbit mention when Janice asks him to describe her?

2. How does Janice repeatedly describe the look her newborn gave her?

3. What drink does Janice want while drugged?

4. Who made Janice switch obstetricians when she became pregnant a second time?

5. What does Harry tell Nelson to think of as he goes to sleep?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

John Updike - like Charles Dickens - makes use of evocative names to project character in this novel. Write an essay about three of these names. How do they reflect the essential personality of the person they denote? What does the reader expect with he or she reads these names?

Part 1) Harry Angstrom (strom means storm in German)

Part 2) Marty Tothero (tother means "the other" in Middle English)

Part 3) Jack Eccles

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 305 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample