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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 Dick wonder if he will find now?

2. May tells Dick that _____________ has a crush on a woman.

3. Why does May want the money from Dick?

4. What does Elsie show to Dick?

5. Why is the documentary unflattering to Dick?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Elsie interpret Dick's comment that they are similar to Marie and Parker?

2. What is the irony of the value of the books Miss Perry gave to Dick and his sons?

3. What happens in Chapter 44 that exacerbates Dick's gloomy feelings when he is on shore?

4. How does the strain of Dick's infidelity begin to weigh on his mind?

5. What mood does the author establish with the brevity of Chapter 47?

6. Explain the irony of Dick's new assertiveness with Parker.

7. How does Elsie's refusal to have sex again with Dick signal an attempt to help him break a destructive pattern?

8. What news does Elsie tell Dick about her life and how things are surprisingly working out to her benefit?

9. What does Dick tell Elsie that he expects May's reaction will be when he reveals his infidelity?

10. How does the weather reflect the state of Dick and May's relationship?

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

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in the story. Which of the characters are lonely? Are they all lonely in some way? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

Essay Topic 3

Even though they are both important in Dick's life, May and Elsie are very different. Compare and contrast May and Elsie. What similarities do they share? How are they different?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 890 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample