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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 is Rusty-James at the onset of the novel?

2. What is Rusty-James doing at the onset of the novel?

3. Whose gang is waiting at the end of the vacant lot?

4. Where does Biff want to meet Rusty-James?

5. Who thinks he is tougher than Rusty-James?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Rusty-James recognize about Motorcycle Boy when he sees some of Motorcycle Boy's old gang members?

2. What is Rusty-James' driving motivation?

3. Why does Motorcycle Boy tell Rusty-James not to tell anyone that a famous photographer took his picture?

4. After locating a former gang member, what important fact does Rusty-James learn about Motorcycle Boy?

5. Why does Smokey believe that no one will follow Rusty-James into a knife fight?

6. Why is Motorcycle Boy hard of hearing and color blind?

7. What does Rusty-James mean when he says that Motorcycle Boy is living in a glass bubble?

8. Why is it important for Rusty-James to be with crowds of people?

9. What is the importance of Rusty-James losing his taste for alcohol?

10. What sets Motorcycle Boy apart from the others?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does the perspective of distance between the past and the present affect the main protagonist, Rusty-James? Analyze how Rusty-James' character has/has not changed during the five years since the night of the knife fight.

Essay Topic 2

In"Rumble Fish," Rusty-James describes Steve as a sincere rabbit. What is the significance of the metaphor? What does it reveal about Steve as a character? What does the author want to convey about both Rusty-James and Steve? Find descriptions from the text to support your answer and to provide evidence for your opinion.

Essay Topic 3

Abuse and neglect is very much a part of "Rumble Fish." Compare and contrast how Rusty-James and Steve each react to the abuse and neglect they incur on the part of their parents, people who are charged with taking care of them. Find descriptions from the text to support your answer and to provide evidence for your opinion.

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