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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. What does Bub plan to do with the money he's earned from the mail scheme?

2. Upon seeing the postman, what plan does Jones concoct?

3. Why wasn't Mrs. Hedges arrested when Jones reported her activities to the police?

4. What does Boots say when Lutie calls him from the payphone?

5. What has been an effect of Lutie's hysterical fear?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Jones think that Min is standing between him and Lutie? Is this assumption reasonable? Explain.

2. At the close of Chapter 17, Lutie is desperate to escape the silence that seems to escape her. Throughout the book, Lutie seeks refuge from silence. Why does silence represent such a problem for Lutie?

3. Does the author's decision to write Chapter 12 from Jones's point of view impacted the readers' impression of the character?

4. Though Min has left Jones at the end of Chapter 15, she still has thoughts of her inadequacy. What does her insinuating conversation with the pushcart man lead the reader to believe?

5. How does Bub's initial refusal to participate in the mail scheme reflect his character and his mother's expectations?

6. Chapter 18 ends tragically when Lutie repeatedly strikes Boots in the head with a candlestick. What does the author intend for Boots to represent? Why does Lutie feel compelled to strike him so many times?

7. Boots hesitates before conceding to Junto's request that Lutie be left alone. What might that slight hesitation suggest?

8. Explain why Junto and Boots feel that they can discuss Lutie's future and disregard her hopes without her consent.

9. What likely drew Junto to Mrs. Hedges?

10. In Chapter 17, Lutie is going to visit Bub at the Children's Shelter. The day is dark and grim. How has the author used the weather to supplement the telling of this story? How does the author's decision to use weather to supplement a story's telling impact the reader?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the book's end, Lutie makes the decision to abandon her son. In her mind, she will be of no use to Bub as a murderer. Bub, who has been the center of her concern for the entire book, is suddenly and seemingly dismissed. As a reader, was this an action you could have predicted? If so, which of Lutie's qualities led you to believe she was capable of this type of behavior? If not, do you think this behavior is believable? Has the author acted within the limits of the character's personality?

Essay Topic 2

The novel's title - The Street - indicates a sense of generality. The book is not given the name of a specific street. Still, it's clear that The Street is not just ANY street. In an essay, explain the loaded nature of the book's title. Be sure to address the author's decision to assign such a vague name while addressing a specific setting. Use details from the text to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Jones suffers from some sort of mental disease. This fact is noted throughout The Street. Still, not one of the characters suggests that Jones might seek professional help for his condition. Why do you think the characters just dismiss Jones' state as hopeless? Why do you think Jones hasn't considered professional help himself? How might Jones be different if he were shown a bit of compassion from those who surround him? And lastly, what does his dismissal suggest about the society we live in?

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