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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. Why does Hagar rarely visit her first son, Marvin, who lives nearby?

2. As Mr. Troy sings, what does Hagar recognize?

3. What does Hagar feel like she is waiting for now in her dying days at the hospital?

4. How does Hagar try to comfort Sandra, her roommate in the hospital, about her upcoming surgery to remove her appendix?

5. In the end, Hagar cannot give up her old ways. What is her response when Doris offers her a glass of water?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 7, do you think John respects his mother?

2. What turns out to be Hagar's biggest character flaws?

3. In Chapter 9, while at the hospital, Hagar finally starts to notice that she is different from other people, in what way?

4. What is Hagar's view toward religion in Chapter 8?

5. Describe the irony, at the end of Chapter 6, of Bram being buried in the Currie plot, and having the Shipley name carved on the other side of the Currie stone.

6. In Chapter 7, Hagar's fear of the dark is admitted. Why do you think she has never told anyone she was afraid of the dark?

7. Lottie Dreiser does not remember the incident described about the chicks. What does this say about Hagar as a narrator?

8. Why does Hagar try to be helpful to her roommate?

9. Compare Hagar and Doris. Has their relationship changed during this book?

10. Having never said a kind word about Bram, why do you think Hagar tells Elva her husband had been very handsome?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In her dying days, Hagar is prompted to try to help others. In what ways could she have helped others her entire life?

Essay Topic 2

What do the wild flowers in the cemetery reflect in Hagar? In what ways are the alike? Please provide specific examples from the book.

Essay Topic 3

Hagar's emotional restraint is seen throughout the novel. Name two instances where she exhibits emotional restraint and how she could have done things differently and what the outcome could have been.

(see the answer keys)

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