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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 state is the protagonist from?

2. What kind of work does the protagonist spend most of his childhood dedicated to?

3. Who does Stoner find as an outlet for love and affection in Chapter V?

4. Where do Edith and Stoner get married?

5. What can the protagonist's parents not do about his decision to get a PhD?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the nature of the letter William receives from Edith after he proposes to her?

2. How is William's first meeting with Edith described in the book?

3. How does William tell his parents about continuing to study English in college rather than agriculture?

4. How is William described just before his wedding to Edith?

5. How do William's parents react when he tells them his plans to obtain a PhD in English?

6. Why does William's father want him to study agriculture in college?

7. How is William's experience in his first English class described?

8. How does William react after being offered a teaching job at the University of Missouri?

9. How are William's meetings with Finch and Masters first described in the book?

10. Why does talk of WWI not penetrate William as it did other students when it begins?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the theme of dedication that is portrayed in the book. Why does William show such dedication to Edith, especially during his relationship with Katherine, considering the turmoil and challenges he experiences in his home life? What is telling about his nature based on his dedication to his family?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the theme of emotion that is portrayed in the book. What role does emotion play in William's life, including at home and at work? Does he appear to be an emotional person or does he lack a connection to this part of himself?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author's portrayal of the father-daughter relationship in the book, namely through the characters of Edith and her father. What impact did Edith's relationship with her father have on her erratic behavior later in life, especially towards her husband William?

(see the answer keys)

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