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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. Where does Willard put the animal carcasses?

2. Where does the bus make a stop on Willard's way home?

3. Why does Willard decide to move?

4. At what does Dunlap hint to Willard one day?

5. Who is Willard?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Willard decide to move his family and how does Charlotte feel about the idea?

2. What happens to the young, attractive soldier that Carl and Sandy pick up?

3. About what does Deputy Sheriff Bodecker fantasize?

4. What does Bodecker learn when he visits the bar where Sandy works?

5. What is the phone call about that Bodecker receives and what does Bodecker conclude?

6. From whom does Willard rent a house and how does the man verbally abuse Willard?

7. How does Roy end up killing Helen?

8. What would keep Willard from coming out to the prayer clearing and what does Arvin think of either activity?

9. What interrupts Hank Bell's daydreaming?

10. What does Willard do one day that greatly upsets Arvin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The sacrifice of the dog Jack could, in all likelihood, be as shocking to the reader as it is to Arvin, so brutal and callous is Willard's action. The traumatizing effect the experience has on Arvin becomes plain later on two occasions later in the narrative - when he vows to never forget Jack and when at the novel's conclusion, he finally gives Jack's bones a decent burial. Given the connection between Jack and Arvin, just about the only character who comes out of the narrative with anything like a sense of hope or possibility, it may be that Jack can be seen as a metaphoric representation of Jesus. Not only was Jesus was sacrificed in what amounts to an act of gratuitous violence just like Jack is, but more importantly, Jack becomes, for Arvin, a symbol of hope and redemption, as Jesus has become for Christians all over the world.

1. Discuss the possibility of the symbolism of Jack to Jesus. Use examples from your life and the text to support your answer.

2. How do you think Arvin was changed by seeing Jack killed? Use examples from your life and the text to support your answer.

3. Why do you think that seeing Jack killed may have helped Arvin remain one of the only moral characters in the book? Use examples from your life and the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in "The Devil All the Time". Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Pollock chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Pollock chooses the metaphors he does?

3. Discuss Pollock's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, cliff hangers, deux ex machina, etc.), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Pollock use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

Essay Topic 3

One of the most intriguing and engaging aspects of the narrative is the depth and texture to the writing - specifically, its use of imagery and motif to illustrate its thematic and narrative points. One repeated motif of dark and destructive sexuality has already been discussed. Another appears for the first time here in Helen's decision to marry Roy, that motif or image being that of a lonely woman giving herself to an unworthy, destructive man. The motif repeats later in the relationship between Carl and Sandy.

1. Discuss reasons why a woman might marry a destructive man. Use examples from your life and the text to support your answer.

2. Discuss what the above paragraph means by imagery and motif to illustrate a theme. Use examples from your life and the text to support your answer.

3. How do you think destructive sexuality might affect a person's life? Use examples from your life and the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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