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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. How does Willard account for the large amount of blood in the clearing when he kills Dunlap?

2. What does Willard begin doing again?

3. Why doesn't Arvin's father respond how Arvin expected?

4. What does Willard explain to his son about Willard's actions?

5. About what does Dunlap hint among his friends?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What interrupts Hank Bell's daydreaming?

5. How does Carl convince young men to have sex with Sandy and what does Carl do after they have sex?

6. About what does Deputy Sheriff Bodecker fantasize?

7. 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?

8. What does Willard decide to do as Charlotte's health deteriorates?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think The Devil All the Time is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Donald Ray Pollock.

2. What in Pollock's background may have helped him in writing "The Devil All the Time"? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,107 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample