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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 do Stoner and his two college friends have their weekly meetings?

2. How old is the protagonist when he decides to go to college?

3. Who is Stoner surprised to see come to his housewarming party?

4. What does Stoner find a financial burden for him in Chapter VI?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How is Sloane's funeral described?

3. Why does Edith's father commit suicide?

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

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

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

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

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

9. How has Edith changed when she returns home from her father's funeral?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

In the first part of the book we are given a summary of the protagonist's life, but by the end we realize he was much more complex than originally portrayed. Part 1.) Why do you think the author chose to summarize William's life at the beginning of the book, what was he trying to portray using this method? Part 2.) How might the author hope summarizing would bring the reader in more deeply to William's situation and was he successful at this? Part 3.) Was William's life as uneventful as suggested in the summary of his life at the beginning of the book or was there much more complexity than originally portrayed?

Essay Topic 3

The theme of family is one presented several times throughout the book. Part 1.) What kind of relationship did William have with his parents and what impact did this relationship have on his actions later in life? Part 2.) How is Edith's view of family flawed due to her experiences with her family growing up? Part 3.) Considering William and Edith's family lives, how does their creation of their own family appear somewhat ironic and why is this significant?

(see the answer keys)

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