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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 Irwin want to be when he grows up in Book One?

2. Where do the Chance boys hide to watch their father's pitching attempts and philosophize together?

3. What position does Hugh think that Everett should play?

4. What school office does Everett hold his senior year in High School?

5. In Book One, which guest on The Ed Sullivan Show is liked by Laura and Irwin?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Papa lose his thumb?

2. Why do some players call Papa "Smoke"?

3. What is Peter's opinion on miracles?

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

5. What is Everett's opinion on miracles as described in Book One?

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

7. Why does Hugh excuse Irwin from the room when he talks to the boys alone at the end of Book Two?

8. How does Laura react to the ultimatum that Hugh gives her at the end of Book Three about her treatment of Peter, Everett, and Kincaid?

9. How does Laura respond to the apology and gifts from Peter, Everett, and Kincaid in Book Three?

10. Why doesn't Kincaid go to church with his Mama and siblings in Book One, Chapter 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the dramatic structure of The Brothers K. Use textual evidence to designate the expository, rising action, the climax, falling action, and denouement.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout The Brothers K, Duncan uses imagery as a metaphor for the plot and character development. Give three specific examples of these metaphors and how they relate specific actions in the plot and/or character development. Discuss why or why not they are effective as literary tools augmenting the general action.

Essay Topic 3

Early on in the novel, Duncan describes a tenuous relationship between Hugh and Laura; however, later, he utilizes a flashback to describe the courtship and early period of their marriage as being quite different. What does this deliberate timeline established by Duncan suggest to the reader about the marriage between Laura and Hugh, what it is based upon, and how it functions? Use specific events from the text to back up your assertions.

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