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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 happens in a crowded street as Anna is returning from taking her father to the hospital?

2. Who does Montgomery introduce to the judge while trying to explain his actions the day of his crime?

3. How do people at the university feel about Montgomery?

4. What is the name of Montgomery's mother?

5. What does Montgomery call his mother when he calls her to the witness stand?

Short Essay Questions

1. The stable hand, Joanne, is very kind to his mother. This makes Montgomery very uncomfortable. Why would Montgomery be uncomfortable with the stable hand's kindness?

2. A car bomb explodes while Anna Behrens is leaving the hospital with her father. What is the symbolism of the car bomb?

3. Why do you think the people who Randolph borrowed money from to give to Montgomery cut off Randolph's ear?

4. What would be Montgomery's reasoning for introducing his alter ego, Billy Bunter, to the jury?

5. Do you think the fight between Montgomery and his mother was solely based on the selling of the paintings?

6. Is Montgomery's mother's reasoning for selling the paintings understandable? Why or why not?

7. What reasoning would Montgomery have for comparing Anna Behrens to a "lonely prisoner in her magic castle in need of rescuing"?

8. Why does Montgomery tell his wife very little?

9. In the beginning of the novel, Montgomery makes a point to say he is not a homosexual. Why does he continue to make references to homosexuals, as when comparing his lawyer to a boy he believes was in love with him when he was a child?

10. Why is Montgomery's recount of his mother's funeral ironic?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Guilt is another theme to the novel. There are times where Montgomery feels guilt and other times when he places it on others. Discuss some examples when Montgomery feels guilt for his crimes. Why does he feel guilty sometimes and then not at others? What does Montgomery's lack of guilt say about him as a character?

Essay Topic 2

Fate is a concept that is touched upon in the novel. What is Montgomery's fate at the end of the novel? What events lead him to his fate? Based on Montgomery's actions in the book, does he deserve his fate?

Essay Topic 3

Family is a recurring topic in the novel. How does Montgomery feel about family? What are his feelings towards his parents, wife and son? Does Montgomery feel any remorse for the family of the girl he killed? Why does Montgomery feel this way towards the concept of family? How is this important to the story?

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