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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 Hank get from the shed?

2. What does Hank admire about Lee?

3. What is the name of the town's bar?

4. What is Draeger handed?

5. What is the name of the dog?

Short Essay Questions

1. What characters does the opening of chapter 5 examine?

2. Describe the prologue that opens Chapter 5.

3. Describe the prologue that opens the first chapter.

4. Why is the town striking?

5. In what way is Viv described as different?

6. What does Lee tell his housemate on the phone?

7. What happens to the bobcats?

8. In what way are the Stampers restless?

9. Describe the prologue that opens Chapter 3.

10. How does Lee get Viv alone?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the values of 1960's America.

1) Why were individuality and family such an important issue during this time?

2) In what ways are the characters' negative characteristics a product of their time? Do you think America was going through a transitional phase in the 1960's? What significant changes do you think occurred during this period?

3) Does modern society share any values with 1960's America?

Essay Topic 2

Examine 1960's family life. How is 1960's family life reflected in the novel? Are the Stampers' problems specific to the 1960's? In what way does Kesey's representation of a 1960's family communicate his ideas on 1960's life?

Essay Topic 3

The novel is set mostly in the state of Oregon.

1) What meaning does Oregon bring to the novel? What would you automatically presume about a novel that was set in Oregon?

2) How different do you think today's Oregon is to the Oregon in the novel? How do you think the novel's meaning would change if it were set in today's Oregon?

(see the answer keys)

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