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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. Who has repaid Elsie's brother-in-law?

2. Who is the Vietnamese man that Parker brings on the trip?

3. Who does Dick see on shore when he comes back from checking the lobster pots?

4. What building seems to be relatively unharmed in the aftermath of the hurricane?

5. How much money did Elsie borrow from her brother-in-law for Dick?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain how the author uses the technique of flashbacks in Chapter 50.

2. Explain the three forces with which Dick battles during the hurricane.

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

4. Describe the climax of the story as Dick's new boat is christened and launched.

5. What does Eddie note about Dick's mood even though the boat is finished and ready for launching?

6. What news does Dick learn when he overhears a conversation between Elsie and Mary?

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

8. Why does Dick continue to feel instability on land, especially after discovering Marie having sex with Parker?

9. Why does May ask Dick for $100?

10. Explain how the hurricane has changed Dick and his feelings about his misplaced priorities.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

Essay Topic 2

Create a brief character study of May. 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 3

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?

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This section contains 860 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample