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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. Richard says that each memory symbolizes ___________________.

2. In Chapter 17, Richard is hanging out with his friends named Mike and _________________.

3. Who is Dick?

4. What does Richard think about as he jumps off the mountain to paraglide?

5. When Richard returns home in Chapter 11, he feels as if he is acting ____________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Richard's first encounter with Dickie.

2. What is the landscape in which Richard finds Dickie in his mind and what does it symbolize?

3. What is the purpose of different people coming into Richard's life?

4. What is the first real bonding experience between Richard and Dickie?

5. What does Richard tell Dickie are the two things necessary to get through life?

6. Describe Dickie's sense of accomplishment in the water tower incident.

7. What role do angels play in Richard's life?

8. What story does Richard tell Dickie about his friends, Mike and Jack, that lets Richard know that he and Dickie are a good team?

9. What does Richard want to do for Dickie and why will this be a daunting task?

10. Who is Sheperd and how does Richard encounter him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The theme of struggling with personal identity is an important one in this book. Describe how it extends through setting, characters and issues and provide examples for each.

Essay Topic 2

Spirituality takes on an almost human persona in this book. What was the source of the religious beliefs? How pervasive were the religious beliefs? Why is Richard considered to be more spiritual than religious? What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

Essay Topic 3

What is the overall setting setting for the book? Be sure to include geography, time period and any pertinent popular culture events. What impact did the setting have on Richard's life overall?

(see the answer keys)

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