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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 is the name of the fiction editor for Logan's magazine?

2. What kind of problem did Henry admit he had that contributed to his scheme against Thorpe?

3. What does Henry do when Davidson shakes his hand?

4. To what does the child in "For Owen" compare the fat children?

5. Why is George summoned from his meeting with Greer?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. At the end of "Nona," the narrator is surrounded by rats, and Nona herself turns into a huge, disgusting rat. The narrator then embraces the rat and indicates that he is planning suicide. What do you think this story is really about?

3. Rocky is dismayed and angered that the milkman, Spike, impregnated his wife. Spike seems not the least bit intimidated, possibly even enjoying Rocky's discomfort. Do you think Spike did what he did in order to specifically anger Rocky, or do you think Spike doesn't care what anyone thinks?

4. What is an example of a metaphor used in "Beachworld" and what comparison is it trying to convey?

5. Rumor had it that Gramma was a witch and apparently became one because she could not carry a baby to term. Do you think Gramma was justified to dabble in witchcraft to attain her dream?

6. Reg likely suffers from a serious mental illness, yet Henry continues to encourage Reg's fantasies. What do you think was Henry's motivating factor?

7. 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?

8. What is an example of personification in the story "Beachworld"? How does it affect the story? Explain why you chose this example.

9. 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?

10. Identify a simile from "The Reaper's Image" and explain how the simile adds to the description.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A simile is a figure of speech in which two essentially unlike things are compared, often in a phrase introduced by like or as, as in "How like the winter hath my absence been" or "So are you to my thoughts as food to life." Recall a simile used in "The Mist" and explain why it seems more descriptive than the usual mundane expression of simple adjectives.

Essay Topic 2

Symbolism is the use of an object, character, figure, place, or color to represent an abstract idea or concept. Stephen King uses symbolism quite readily in his writing. Give three examples of symbolism in "Skeleton Crew" and describe how the use of those symbols makes the story more interesting.

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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