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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. What does Richard see from the air that the adult brain says it could not reasonably survive?

2. What does Richard want to tell Dickie in Chapter 6?

3. What is Richard doing with friends on Tiger Mountain?

4. What does Richard respond when Dickie asks Richard's age?

5. How old was Richard when his brother died?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Dickie manage to teach to Richard even though Richard is providing instruction during the flight?

2. Describe Richard's first encounter with Dickie.

3. What philosophy about numbers does Richard share with Dickie?

4. When does Richard feel as if he has a connection with Dickie and what role has Dickie played in Richard's life?

5. What conflict does Richard realize he has regarding relating to Dickie?

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

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

8. Describe the time that a woman came to Richard and started discussing his thoughts.

9. Explain the metaphor of being captain of your own ship as Richard explains it to Dickie.

10. Who is Dickie and what promise had Richard made to him long ago?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in the book. Why would Dickie feel a different kind of loneliness from the loneliness that Richard experiences? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

Essay Topic 2

Bach is a master at dramatic devices. Choose an example of symbolism, metaphors, and irony, briefly describe them and identify the technique which they embody.

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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