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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 Marielle correct in Jordan's speech?

2. Who is the officiant of Marielle's funeral in "Talking to Myself and Feeling Old"?

3. What does Jordy say that makes Jordan smile in "Yesterday Once More"?

4. In "Yesterday Once More," what is written on Jordy's shirt?

5. What does the Ouija Board first spell?

Short Essay Questions

1. What reasoning does Marielle give for wanting to have sex with Craig in "We've Only Just Begun;" what motivates her?

2. How does Naomi react when Marielle discovers her ring and why did her fiancé choose it?

3. What were Alec's post-grad plans?

4. Why does Jordy refuse to go for a swim in "Talking to Myself and Feeling Old"?

5. Who was the first classmate that Jordan lost and what happened to him?

6. Why does Jordan want to return to Columbia; what does he think about the political state in Columbia versus America?

7. How does Craig respond after the Ouija Board? What does he want to find out?

8. What does Jordan imagine himself as in the beginning of the novel and why?

9. In "Talking to Myself and Feeling Old" why is Craig feeling pretty good about himself?

10. What does Naomi instruct Marielle to do on the beach in "Talking to Myself and Feeling Old" and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Up until Jordan's diagnosis, he has been portrayed as highly individualistic. Discuss how Rowley's juxtaposition of Jordan's independent past against his dependent present makes his cancer diagnosis even more frustrating. Why is it impactful for the reader to see what Jordan lost versus just showing his current struggle? Draw from one to three scenes in the novel to make your point, avoid general discussion.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss how Craig's relationship with Mia and acceptance of his fatherhood at the Cloister works to redeem his character. Craig has spent most of his life without a family, he was raised by his aunt and uncle. How does the notion of being a part of something larger than himself propel his character growth? Make sure to cite direct evidence from before his interaction with Mia and after.

Essay Topic 3

Selecting any of the sections titled "The Jordans," write an essay discussing why Rowley uses a different tone and mood when discussing Jordan's diagnosis. What is the literary effect of this? What is Rowley trying to suggest with this juxtaposition?

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