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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. Who is Reg Thorpe?

2. Why did Rocky do what he did that landed him in jail?

3. Where is Richard Pine when he writes in his diary?

4. Who follows Rocky and Leo as they leave the garage?

5. What lie does Henry tell Thorpe?

Short Essay Questions

1. There is a rumor in the family that Gramma did something to Franklin to make him die. Do you think the family is just overreacting to their guilt and loss by blaming it on Gramma?

2. What do you think the story "For Owen" is about?

3. Henry finally shares his story with a few close friends years later about Reg and the Fornits. Why do you think it took him so long to share this information?

4. Gramma is fat, flabby, blind, and smells funny. She also often wears a sly, frightening appearance. Do you think she plays up her frightening aspects to keep the family in line?

5. Uncle Otto's business partner, George, was killed in an accident involving Otto's truck. Most people believe that Otto killed George over a business disagreement. Given the circumstances of the ending, do you think it was Uncle Otto or Uncle Otto's truck that killed George and why?

6. Quentin seems terrified of Uncle Otto's truck himself, especially after seeing first hand what happened to Uncle Otto. What does Quentin fear the most?

7. What is the significance of the opening in "The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands"?

8. Children are often frightened by elderly relatives. Everything about them seems foreign and frightening. Do you think George's fear of Gramma was instinctual or merely the usual fear a child has of older people?

9. Think about the setting of "The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands." How does the setting of this story add to its scary feeling?

10. Richard Pine is a man who has made his fortune as a surgeon with his hands, but the rest of his life has been shady and complicated. However, through it all, he protected his hands. How do you think he felt when his hands were the only things he had left, and he was faced with eating those for survival?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Conflict in any story or novel is developed by interaction between protagonist and antagonist. Choose any one of the stories in "Skeleton Crew" and identify the protagonist and antagonist in the story and the conflict that develops between them. What does this add to the story?

Essay Topic 2

The plot is the arrangement of ideas and incidents that make up a story. The plot is important. Choose two stories from "Skeleton Crew," identify the plot, and outline the methods King uses to develop that plot.

Essay Topic 3

Stephen King is most well-known for his horror novels and stories. The majority of the stories contained within "Skeleton Crew" are no exception. However, there are a few stories which do not fall within King's typical genre. What do you think King's purpose was in including these off-genre stories in a book that is obviously intended to be horror?

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