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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 reacts in a fit of rage when Stoner says he may enlist in the war?

2. How does Edith react when Stoner asks her for sex?

3. What is the name of the ship that sinks and causes America to join the war?

4. Where is Edith from in the book?

5. Who dies at the beginning of Chapter VII?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Edith's father commit suicide?

2. How is William's early life on his family farm described for the first time in the book?

3. Describe Edith's outburst during dinner with Finch and his fiancée in Chapter V.

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

5. How does William learn about the new agriculture program at the University of Missouri?

6. How does William come to decide to get a PhD in English?

7. How is Edith and William's relationship described when they return from their honeymoon?

8. How is Edith described after she gives birth to Grace?

9. How is Hollis Lomax first described in the book?

10. How is William and Edith's first night together as a married couple described?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The theme of death is one that is portrayed through many characters in the book including David Masters, Archer Sloane, and eventually William Stoner. Considering the evolution of death through these three characters, what might the author be saying about the nature of death and its impact on others?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the concept of sympathy that is portrayed in the book. Why does the author portray characters like William, Charles, and Hollis as sympathetic? What might he wish for the reader to learn about the nature of this concept based on the portrayal of these characters?

Essay Topic 3

The theme of love is one rooted deep within the stories of the book's characters. Part 1.) How might this book be considered a love story? Part 2.) Compare and contrast William's relationship with Katherine to his relationship with Edith. What lessons does William learn about love through his relationships with these women? Part 3.) Discuss William's love for knowledge and learning and argue whether or not this is his true love in life, namely examining how he compares his love for others to it.

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