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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. For how long did Goolrick's peaceful relationship with his sister-in-law last?

2. What does Dodo try to get Goolrick to do to her?

3. What does Goolrick begin to carry with him?

4. What does Judy collect?

5. Why did Goolrick's parents summon him home one Christmas to scream at him?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain who Sam Weller is, and what happens to him.

2. Explain why Goolrick is surprised at his emotions following his father's death.

3. Describe how brother comes out of the coma.

4. Describe the circumstances that led to brother's CAT scan which revealed the aneurysm.

5. Explain what Goolrick means when he talks about the mystery of how most people carry on.

6. Describe how Goolrick's friend attempted suicide.

7. Explain the situation when Teddy calls.

8. Describe Goolrick's state of mind at this point in the novel.

9. Describe the dinner at Judy Judy's, including her collection, and the food, as well as the people attending.

10. Describe the environment Goolrick experienced as a child.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the major themes in the novel, and discuss it. Some examples of themes are child abuse, alcoholism, depression, and the lifestyle of the 1950s and 1960s. Include how Goolrick approached the theme, its purpose in the novel, how it was conveyed to the reader, and how the people in the book reacted to the scenarios this theme presented.

Essay Topic 2

Explain, in detail, why the burned dress of Goolrick's mother made such an impact on him in "Burn." What did the dresses symbolize to Goolrick, and therefore, what did the damaged dress symbolize? Did Goolrick ever determine what was lost in his family? If so, what was it? If not, what do you think was missing in Goolrick's family?

Essay Topic 3

Foreshadowing is used heavily in the novel, as Goolrick flips between historical memory and current fact to weave together his painful memoir. Choose three examples of foreshadowing, and discuss them in depth in terms of how they were used to indicate what was to come later in the novel.

(see the answer keys)

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