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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. With whom did Elsie's father once have an affair?

2. What is Schuyler doing when Parker sees him the next morning?

3. Who does Dick tell May he is going to ask about borrowing money?

4. What seems to sexually arouse Elsie?

5. How does Charlie think about May in his mind?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Joxer's bad luck change the immediate future for more than himself?

2. What does Parker's cunning behavior begin to signify?

3. What is the premise of SPARTINA?

4. Explain Dick's thoughts as he begins to understand the complications of the drug smuggling situation with Parker.

5. How does Dick feel about the fantasies that Elsie finds erotic?

6. What advice does May give Dick before leaving on the swordfish trip which will be filmed for Schuyler's documentary?

7. How can Elsie be noted as the heroine of Chapter 10 and who would be the antithesis of that?

8. What are the differences between how May and Elsie view Dick's boat project?

9. What do Miss Perry's walking sticks represent to Dick?

10. What are the two viable options for funding for Dick's boat at this point?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a brief character study of Elsie. What does she look like? What are her positive personality traits? What are some of her negative characteristics? What are her hopes and fears? What motivates her--if anything--at this point in her life?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the overall setting for the novel. Why does Casey use the setting he does? What is the time period of the story? How important is the time period to the attitudes and issues of the characters?

Essay Topic 3

Striving takes on an almost human persona in this story. What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

(see the answer keys)

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