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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 addition to the Chance family and friends from Camas intimidates Major Keys?

2. What is Hugh's new baseball nickname that is given to him while pitching for the Tugboats?

3. How many pages is the letter Everett writes to Tasha and mails to her grandmother's address?

4. Whom does Peter quote during his speech at the post season baseball banquet?

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

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. How does Natasha respond to Everett's public debate with Dr. Gurtzner?

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

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

5. What reason does Peter give Laura for taking a job at the mill in Chapter 5?

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

7. Why does Hugh go to Elder Babcock's house in Book Five?

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

9. What secret does Bet confide to Everett in her first letter in Book Six?

10. After going into hiding after burning his draft card, which event causes Everett to question his identity and value?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the point of view utilized by Duncan in The Brothers K. Since this was a deliberate choice, discuss why Duncan selected the view he used. What influences did the point of view have on the development of the book's themes? Make sure to use specific textual evidence to support your assertions.

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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