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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 teaches Dickie about self preservation and _____________________.

2. What word does Richard tell Dickie to remember when Dickie asks about marriage?

3. What does Richard do about Dickie's leaving?

4. What decision does Dickie make in Chapter 38?

5. Richard feels like __________________ at the event.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Richard's attempts at getting Dickie to stay show about their relationship at this point?

2. What does Richard feel about his role as teacher in his relationship with Dickie?

3. What conclusion does Richard come to regarding himself and Dickie's leaving?

4. How does Richard use arithmetic to teach Dickie about life?

5. Why does Richard use the word "different" to discuss marriage with Dickie?

6. What example does Richard give regarding taking a risk and doing something you love as opposed to doing what other people may think of as stability?

7. Explain some of the philosophies of life that Richard explains to Dickie such as space-time and the elements of the human experience.

8. What does Richard recall about his brother, Bobby's, death?

9. What is Richard's perspective on the possibility of Dickie's leaving?

10. Why are Richard and Leslie at cross purposes regarding what to tell Dickie about love and marriage?

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

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 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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