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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 is the first one to turn on a light?

2. What time of day does the car accident occur?

3. Which of the characters is clearly an alcoholic?

4. Who notes that the characters "are all from someplace else"?

5. What is the relationship between Nick and Laura?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the nature of Terri and Ed's involvement?

2. How is Mel's discussion of love similar to his profession?

3. Compare Mel and Terri's relationship to Nick and Laura's.

4. How long have Nick and Laura been married in comparison to Terri and Mel?

5. What is the final conclusion about the meaning of love?

6. Describe the setting at the end of the story.

7. Why is it ironic that Mel is a cardiologist by profession?

8. Describe Mel and Laura's relationship.

9. What description does the author give of Laura?

10. Describe the mood of the second portion of Mel's story.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Symbolism is an important tool authors use to effectively communicate ideas and meanings to the reader. Identify one symbol Carver uses in his story and describe what it symbolizes. What purpose does it serve to have this particular symbol in the story?

Essay Topic 2

Authors often use setting, including the time of day, to communicate an important message about the story. The setting can have a significant impact on the tone and mood of a story.

Part 1) Discuss the clues Carver gives readers as to the time of day as the story unfolds.

Part 2) Why does Carver choose this particular time of day as a setting for a story about love?

Part 3) Pick a time of day (or night) different from the actual one in the story and discuss how the story would have been different had it been set during this time.

Essay Topic 3

Foreshadowing is a common literary technique that indicates what will happen later in the story. Describe 2-3 instances of foreshadowing in this story. Did the author use them effectively?

(see the answer keys)

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