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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. Whose house does Ray want to visit before he leaves town?

2. What does Ray realize about the time of year when he is traveling around?

3. Whose shoes does Ray borrow when his feet become very sore?

4. What does Alvah later refer to as the activity with Princess, Japhy, Ray and himself ?

5. What do the men decide to do while they wait for Morley?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does a transient in Riverside warn Ray about once he arrives?

2. What does Ray ask Japhy to help him do once Ray receives money?

3. Describe the character of Japhy Ryder.

4. What happens later in the night which upsets Alvah, and rightfully so?

5. How do Japhy and Ray find Morley again?

6. Describe the way Japhy decides to descend the mountain.

7. Describe the character of Henry Morley.

8. List the four men who sit together at Japhy's small home, drinking wine together and discussing poetry.

9. What does Ray decide to do once the rest of the family is in bed asleep?

10. What do the bums of San Francisco tell Ray there is great money to be made in doing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Within the friendship of Ray and Japhys lies gray area in which they are not as friendly as they seem, at times.

Part 1: Describe Ray's feelings towards Japhys throughout the novel. How do they change? What is the eventual feeling Ray has for Japhy?

Part 2: How might one describe the relationship between these two men?

Part 3: Does the relationship between these two men seem to be convincing? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The suicide of Rosie is a tragic part of this story, though it seems to be a necessary evil within the story as well.

Part 1: Describe the circumstances of Rosie's suicide.

Part 2: Who might be to blame for her suicide? Who might have been able to stop her?

Part 3: What are the consequences of Rosie's suicide?

Essay Topic 3

The voice of the narrator is always a concern for a novel. Since the author's own life and opinions often influence the narration, the narrator's voice must be questioned.

Part 1: Who is the narrator of this novel?

Part 2: What does the narrator bring to the story and the telling of the story?

Part 3: How does this particular narrator affect the telling of the story? Is he/she a positive or negative influence on the story telling? Is he/she they trustworthy?

(see the answer keys)

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