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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. When Homer turns to Gray's Anatomy for additional information on the fetus in Chapter 5, the fetus information is where in the book?

2. Melony suggests to Homer that Dr. Larch is what in Chapter 3?

3. When Wally sees Candy with the younger boy in her lap, he begs her to do what in Chapter 5?

4. How many of John Irving's novels have been adapted to film?

5. What do the nurses at the orphanage refer to the doctor as?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is foreshadowed about the life and career of Dr. Larch in Chapter 2?

2. In what ways does Dr. Larch record the history of St. Cloud's as described in Chapter 1?

3. What is ironic about Wilbur's parents in Chapter 2? How is Wilbur's career shaped by his encounter with the prostitute?

4. How is Melony described by the author in Chapter 3? What age is Melony?

5. In what ways does the character of Dr. Larch symbolize God? How is this illustrated in Chapter 3?

6. Where does Wally invite Homer to go with him in Chapter 5?

7. What causes Homer's first two adoptive families to return him to the orphanage in Chapter 1?

8. Where does Dr. Larch send the prostitute's daughter in Chapter 2? What happens to her there?

9. How does the setting of Heart's Haven and Heart's Rock compare to the orphanage in Chapter 4?

10. How is the atmosphere described in the beginning of Chapter 5? What is symbolic in this description?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the symbolism of the cider house rules. Why does the author use this as the title of the novel? What is significant about these rules? What is Homer's reaction to the rules? Also discuss racial relations during the time period in the novel. Where do the apple pickers live during the off season? In what ways are they segregated from the white population?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Neal Dow and the parents of Wilbur Larch, and define and identify irony and symbolism in Chapter 2. What is symbolic about the train that Wilbur's father leaves on? How did Wilbur's history develop him into who he became as an adult? How close was Wilbur with his mother?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the character of Wilbur Larch in the narrative. Where was Wilbur born? What does the exposition reveal about Wilbur's past? What were Wilbur's parents like? Where did he study and begin his career?

(see the answer keys)

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