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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. How long did Isaiah Beethoven discover he had to live?

2. Where did Ippolit Konovaloff work?

3. What was Ippolit Konovaloff's occupation?

4. What was the name of John Wasson's wife?

5. Who stirred "vibrations" in Spoon River?

Short Essay Questions

1. Many residents suffered greatly because of bad luck. Give at least one example of such a resident.

2. What does the alligator rising out of the mud in Arlo Will's epitaph symbolize?

3. What is one theme in the section beginning with William H. Herndon and ending with Alfonzo Churchill?

4. Compare and contrast Zilpha Marsh and Lydia Humphrey.

5. Why might it be important to treat your friends and family well, according to Le Roy Goldman?

6. Who killed Tom Merritt? What happened to Mrs. Merritt and her lover after Tom's murder?

7. Why is Hog-eyed Allen at the courthouse on the day of the election? What happens to him?

8. Compare and contrast the village atheist and John Ballard.

9. What does Lyman King say about Fate?

10. Give three examples of enlightened souls in the section beginning with Edmund Pollard and ending with Dippold the Optician.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain how the Spooniad and the Epilogue fit into the larger work of the "Spoon River Anthology".

Essay Topic 2

Explain the conflict between the conservative and liberal parties in Spoon River. What significance does this have to the Anthology?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the theme of spiritual evolution in "Spoon River Anthology".

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This section contains 695 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample