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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. Where does Stoner sleep on his first night with Edith after they're married?

2. Where did Edith cancel plans for in order to marry Stoner?

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

4. What does the protagonist do during his summers in college?

5. What colleague of William's is described as having a bitter and ironic sense of humor?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is William and Edith's first time making love described?

2. How does Edith act just after her and William are married?

3. Why does Edith's father commit suicide?

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

5. How is William's study of English described over the three years he studies at the University of Missouri?

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

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

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

9. How is William's first meeting with Edith's parents described?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast William and Edith's parenting style in the book. What motivates each of these character's parenting styles in the book and are they successful parents to Grace?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author's portrayal of marriage in the book. What does William wish to get out of being married despite showing little passion for anything besides his education? Does he feel it's just a duty he must fulfill to fit in or does he truly find love in Edith?

(see the answer keys)

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