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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. For what sport does Irwin leave baseball?

2. What does Everett burn after he struggles to recapture his joy of reading in Book Five?

3. What emotion does Everett feel during his incarceration that surprises him in Book Six?

4. Who comes to take away Hugh's body?

5. Why does Everett miss the message about Irwin's wedding and draft into the army?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Everett witness that causes his epiphany and prompts him to pack up everything and return to his family in Camas?

2. What secret about Linda does Bet reveal to Kincaid in Book Five?

3. Why is Everett so suited to activism?

4. Why does Peter refuse to buy back his manuscripts in Book Five?

5. What effect does Everett's glasses have upon his baseball game?

6. What event heals the relationship between Everett and his mother in Book Five?

7. When Everett receives Natasha's letter proclaiming her love, how does he respond?

8. Why does Major Keys think that Irwin is a difficult and stubborn case?

9. How is Peter afraid of hurting his father in regard to baseball in Book Four?

10. How is Everett's attitude in regards to his imprisonment?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the novel Laura and Everett's relationship changes dramatically several times. Using textual examples describe how the shifts in their relationship resonate with the themes of love, judgment, and redemption.

Essay Topic 2

One of the strongest literary tools employed by Duncan in The Brothers K is the use of paradox and irony. Give examples of where Duncan has employed verbal or situational irony and discuss in detail how this use of irony has furthered the plot, developed characters, or strengthened a theme.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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