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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. Where does Hugh get transferred to after he is injured playing for the Chicago White Sox?

2. What does Irwin want to be when he grows up in Book One?

3. What was Hugh's father's profession?

4. What action does Hugh apologize for profusely at the end of Book One?

5. What does Kincaid give his mother in token of his apology in Book Three?

Short Essay Questions

1. What reason does Papa give for Mama expecting twins in Chapter 1?

2. How does Peter's appearance change after Laura stops doing his domestic duties?

3. What do the boys make a pact to pray for at the end of Book Two?

4. What do the Twins do for Grandawma as a token of their love and affection after she dies?

5. As Peter begins to ask and contemplate deep questions in Book Two, where does he turn to seek answers?

6. What political figure does Kincaid compare Laura and "her Bible" to in Book Three and why?

7. Why does Kincaid keep refusing to learn the memory verse in Book One?

8. How does Everett's appearance change after Laura stops doing his domestic duties?

9. According to Kincaid in Book One, what causes Papa to start up smoking again after he had quit?

10. How did Papa lose his thumb?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In The Brothers K, Duncan utilizes many popular historical baseball figures as characters and anecdotes throughout the novel. Using at least three examples of these figures from the text, discuss how the inclusion of these characters affects the plot and directs the themes of the novel.

Essay Topic 2

In the Brothers K, Duncan highlights several different strong female figures who go outside of the norm of typical gender roles of their time. Using at least two main characters from the novel, discuss what commentary Duncan is making about gender roles, particularly in regard to women in the United States.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout The Brothers K, Peter and Everett specifically go through a growth and maturing process due to the experiences they undergo. Using at least two specific examples from the text, discuss how Duncan illustrates this growth and maturing process and how it is central to the overarching theme of the novel.

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