View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. At the end of Chapter 4, John imagines Car and Taft doing what?

2. Why does Taft stop working on the deck early in Chapter 5?

3. While giving Fay a tour of the bar in Chapter 2, John marvels what about Tennessee?

4. What do Ruth and John do after meeting in Chapter 6?

5. The statue on the battlefield commemorates the dead of which state?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Levon Taft's life described in Chapter 5?

2. How is Ruth introduced in Chapter 5?

3. What does Taft worry about regarding his children in Chapter 5?

4. In what state is Cyndi on the second night of Chapter 3?

5. What is the nature of Ruth and John's visit together in the midst of Chapter 6?

6. In Chapter 2, what does Fay reveal to John about herself?

7. Why did John return to Marion?

8. Where do John and Fay travel in Chapter 4?

9. Describe John Nickel's experience at the Rum Boogie Cafe.

10. In what state is Carl when John and Fay find him in Chapter 3?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about Patchett's portrayal of the modern Deep South in the novel. What is left of the specter of Jim Crow in the South? How do the remnants of segregation and racism manifest themselves in the narrative? Discuss how this nascent bigotry affects the character of John Nickel. Why does it make him more reticent to connect with Fay Taft? Is the city really as racist as he believes?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about Levon Taft, and how he is largely a creation of John Nickel's imagination. Why would John Nickel become fixated on Taft? How does he become aware of Taft's existence and death? Discuss the origin of the information in the Taft narrative: his first name, his car, and his various jobs. When would John have heard about these details? Discuss how the final chapter involves John's complete immersion in a Taft construction.

Essay Topic 3

In the insular world of Memphis as represented in this novel, many individuals have opinions regarding John's personal life. In particular, the Woodmoore family insinuates itself into his relationship with Marion. Write an essay about each of the Woomoore family-members's opinions. What does this person think John should do regarding his ex-wife? Why is this opinion held, and how does the character express the opinion to John over the course of the novel?

Part 1) Mr. Woodmoore.

Part 2) Mrs. Woodmoore.

Part 3) Ruth.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,015 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample