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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 Stephen hold on to as a lifeline after Kate's disappearance?

2. Who cannot discuss Kate's disappearance?

3. In what category does Stephen submit his first book to Gott?

4. Who does Stephen encounter in a yellow frock at the train station?

5. After Kate disappears, how does Stephen's life change?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Julie do that makes Stephen angry with Julie?

2. What fear do the police instill in Stephen by mentioning the docks?

3. What is Stephen's first novel originally about before it becomes a children's book?

4. How did Thelma help Stephen during his struggle with Kate's disappearance?

5. How does Julie initially cope with Kate's disappearance?

6. How does Charles convince Stephen to publish the book as a children's one?

7. How does Hashish become Lemonade?

8. How is Kate attired the day she is missing?

9. When Julie came back from Chilterns, why were she and Stephen only able to stay together briefly?

10. How does Stephen look for Kate when she disappears?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In The Child In Time, Stephen appears to travel through time seamlessly. Time and space have more ambiguous boundaries? What do you think of the way time and space are portrayed in The Child In Time? Which aspects do you find more or less appealing? How does this relate to the past and memories? How does this affect future events?

Essay Topic 2

Politics are also referred to in the book. McEwan refers to the politics of the society of The Child In Time during 1987 when Thatcher was in power. How does the politics Ian describes in the book compare to that of his own world? Do you think politics are an important part of the book? How else could McEwan incorporate politics into the book? Also examine the use of politics in relationships.

Essay Topic 3

The Child In Time is particularly effective in conveying meaning through powerful imagery. Powerful imagery to establish connections in the minds of readers with the story's characters and plot. Imagery is the picture we form in our minds of the story we read. It can involve, visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, kinetic, and kinesthetic. The author uses these imagery to translate words into a visual story that we can see and participate in within our minds. Describe the use of imagery in this dystopian novel.

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