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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. Who is said to have decayed teeth?

2. Who is Charlotte?

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

4. About what does Dunlap taunt Willard?

5. For what does Willard ask God regularly?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Emma believe God will not hold her to her bargain about Willard?

2. Where is Willard going and what is he thinking about as he travels in Chapter 1?

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

4. Describe the church revival Willard attends with Emma.

5. Who is closing Maude's Store, and about what is he fantasizing?

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

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

8. At what does Dunlap hint to Willard one day when Willard goes to pay his rent?

9. Why does Carl wake up drenched in sweat?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bodecker himself has gone up in the world, at least in terms of public status. The reference to his taking bribes, on the other hand, reveals how low he has sunk in terms of personal moral status. The reference to bribes also foreshadows events later in the narrative in which his hard-won status becomes increasingly endangered by his corrupt activities and attitudes. Meanwhile, it's interesting to note how his, Sandy's and Carl's varied states of corruption are juxtaposed one to the other to the other, parallel situations that lead to parallel justice - death at the hands of the avenging Arvin.

1. Do you think Bodecker was always corrupt? Why or why not? Do you think public office corrupts many individuals? Why or why not? Use examples from your life and the text to support your answer.

2. Discuss what is meant by the following: Bodecker's, Sandy's and Carl's varied states of corruption are juxtaposed one to the other to the other. Use examples from your life and the text to support your answer.

3. Do you think Bodecker deserved to die as much as some of the other corrupt characters? Why or why not? 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

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain

(see the answer keys)

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