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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 makes Carl wake up in a cold sweat?

2. What does Roy empty over his head?

3. What does Willard tells Arvin when Willard comes to the clearing?

4. What is the result of how others in the area see Arvin?

5. Who does Theodore manipulate Roy into killing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Willard confess to Emma and what is Emma's reaction?

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

3. Who are Sandy and Carl and what are they doing?

4. What does Willard do after Charlotte's funeral?

5. What happens when Arvin turns ten and how does Willard plan to fix it?

6. What does Arvin start to do when he hears someone nearby and what is his father's reaction? How does Arvin feel what his father tells him to do?

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

8. What does Roy do that causes the crowd to panic?

9. With whom is Henry's wife committing adultery and with whom does Henry say he'd like to commit adultery?

10. Describe the church revival Willard attends with Emma.

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

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as "The Devil All the Time" help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading "The Devil All the Time"? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in "The Devil All the Time" to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

Essay Topic 3

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).

(see the answer keys)

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