View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where is Irwin transferred to back in the United States?

2. What is the name of the church Irwin and Linda have been attending?

3. What is the name of the British man who facilitates the robbing of Peter in India?

4. What ultimatum does Laura give her congregation in Book Six?

5. Whom does Freddy send Everett a snapshot of in prison?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Everett send to Irwin as a "homeopathic dose of sanity and antidote to Army Brain" in Book Five?

2. What piece of pitching advice does Freddy recite at Hugh's wake?

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

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

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

8. What position does Ty Daniels and the rest of the Portland Tug team take towards Hugh when he throws his last wild pitch and leaves the team?

9. What does Kincaid dream about on their journey home in Book Six that startles and scares him?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The relationship of marriage is evident in several different couples in The Brothers K. Compare and contrast Hugh's and Laura's marriage with Irwin's and Linda's marriage or Uncle Marvin's and Aunt Mary Jane's marriage. Point out similarities and differences and what those details infer about the characters in those relationships.

Essay Topic 2

In The Brothers K a lot of focus is given to the issues of right versus wrong. Using specific characters and situations, discuss how Duncan highlights this dichotomy and specifically how the idea of right versus wrong relates to good versus evil.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 885 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample