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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 arrives late for Stoner's seminar in Chapter IX?

2. What is Stoner doing when Katherine comes to visit him in Chapter XII?

3. What does Katherine wish for Stoner to do for her when she visits him in Chapter XII?

4. How long is Stoner and Katherine's only trip away together?

5. What does Walker's committee decide about his fate after his oral examination?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the set-up of Charles Walker's oral examinations described?

2. How does William's relationship with Edith change after he begins having an affair with Katherine?

3. How do William and Katherine begin their love affair with one another?

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

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. What is the nature of William's conversation with Lomax when he tries to mend their relationship over the Charles Walker situation?

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

9. How does Charles Walker arrive to his first class with William?

10. How does William react when Finch asks him if he wanted to be the new head of the English department?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the characters Katherine and Edith in the book. How might William consider Katherine everything he wished for Edith to be and what is holding Edith back from being that person for him?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the concept of the University that is portrayed in the book through William and his school friends. What are the different views of the University presented by William, David Masters, and Archer Sloane in the book and whose idea do you most agree with?

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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