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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 begin spending his time after Edith remodels his study?

2. Who begins questioning Walker during his oral examination that dashes Stoner's hopes for him?

3. What do Stoner and Katherine begin at the end of Chapter XII?

4. Who arrives late for Stoner's seminar in Chapter IX?

5. Who tries to convince Lomax to give Stoner his good class schedule back in Chapter XIV?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe William's actions after Katherine drops off her dissertation for him to read.

2. How is William and Katherine's affair described at the beginning of Chapter XIII?

3. How does William find ways to see Katherine after he reviewed her dissertation?

4. How does William begin questioning the value of his life in Chapter XI?

5. How does Finch try and help William not lose his job over his affair with Katherine?

6. How is William's first meeting with Charles Walker described?

7. How does William react to Katherine Driscoll's presentation in his seminar?

8. How is William able to get his preferred class schedule back from Lomax in Chapter XIV?

9. Why does William's relationship with Katherine end?

10. How does William's teaching schedule change after Lomax is appointed chair of the English department?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Examine the author's portrayal of farm life in the book. How is the way of life of William's parents on the farm different from what he finds in college and what did farm life prevent William from experiencing out of life that he found elsewhere?

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?

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