View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Jimmy think about doing after he gets back from Crab's errand?

2. What does the person Crab and Jimmy talk to do after they leave?

3. Who are Crab and Jimmy waiting for in the morning?

4. What does Crab want Jimmy to inquire about when he sends him back inside?

5. What does Crab receive from the person they encounter next?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Jimmy find out that Crab is sick?

2. Why does Crab tell Jimmy to go to the room and stay there alone all night?

3. What does the conjure man tell Crab?

4. Where do Crab and Jimmy stay in Chicago?

5. What does Jimmy think about when he thinks of Mama Jean?

6. What does Crab ask Jimmy to say when he calls Rydell?

7. Describe Crab's interaction with Frank.

8. Where do Crab and Jimmy go after the diner?

9. What happens to Crab and Jimmy on their way out of Chicago?

10. What response does Rydell make?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a character sketch of the author based on his style and content. What values does he hold dear? What are his hopes and fears? What kind of person do you think he is? Anchor your sketch in passages in the book.

Essay Topic 2

Crab's illness makes it impossible for him to play more than an episodic role in Jimmy's life. How else does his illness figure in the book? Is it a symbol or a metaphor? What does it symbolize? What clues does the author give us, that Crab's illness might mean more than just his individual sickness?

Essay Topic 3

How would you characterize the author's writing style? How is language itself a character in the story? Is it supposed to be transparent, or does the author draw attention to his use of language?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 508 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample