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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 is Homer's last name in the novel?

2. Who is one of the nurses who works in the boys' division of the hospital orphanage and who tries to never repeat names when naming the babies?

3. In Chapter 5, the wind is picking up in St. Cloud's and awakens the stationmaster, who thinks it is what?

4. As a graduation gift from high school, Wilbur's father bought him what?

5. After the abortion, who comes into the recovery room to be with Candy in Chapter 5?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is symbolic about Dr. Larch's choices for the books read to the orphans in Chapter 3?

3. How does the book Jane Eyre relate to the main characters in Chapter 4? What heroic act does Homer do in this chapter?

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

5. What is Dr. Larch's reaction to Homer's leaving the orphanage in Chapter 5? What is foreshadowed?

6. Why does Dr. Larch keep the women having abortions separate from the women giving birth in Chapter 3?

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

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

9. What does the character of Melony symbolize in Homer's life in Chapter 3?

10. Discuss the symbolism and foreshadowing in Chapter 4. What is foreshadowed by Candy's pregnancy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the theme of fatherhood in the novel. Who, aside from Dr. Larch, exhibits this theme? How does this theme apply to Homer and Dr. Larch? Are their father/son feelings mutual? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and discuss the decision of Candy and Wally to have an abortion. How do each of the characters feel about this choice? Why does Wally attempt to talk Candy out of the procedure? What is Candy's response?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the character of Homer Wells in the narrative. How old is Homer when he is introduced in Chapter 1? When was Homer brought to the orphanage? How many times is Homer adopted and why do his adoptive parents bring him back to the orphanage?

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