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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 Emma feel about Teagardin's spontaneous sermon?

2. How does Lenora see Teagardin?

3. For how long did Roy and Theodore travel in the South?

4. How old is Arvin when he gets Willard's Luger?

5. How is Theodore?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Lenora accidentally commit suicide?

2. How does Carl prepare for his and Sandy's next hunt?

3. Why does Arvin beat up three local boys?

4. What does Joe tell Sandy when he visits her at the bar one day and what is her reaction?

5. Where does Carl start hanging out and what is his reaction one night to a conversation between two Republicans?

6. What does Teagardin contemplate that night after the potluck dinner?

7. What happens with the fourth "model" Sandy and Carl pick up?

8. What does Carl think about when he goes to eat at the White Cow Diner?

9. What does Pastor Sykes announce and what does he not tell his congregation?

10. Where does Carl take Sandy to teach her to shoot and how does the land owner almost lose his life?

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

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

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.

(see the answer keys)

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