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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. What did brother once stick in Goolrick's forehead?

2. Who are Sonny and Blanche?

3. What did the students have to bring on Butter Day?

4. What does Goolrick begin to obsess about?

5. What did brother want mother to say before he ate his dinner?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain how cream was used to make butter in the classroom.

2. Explain what happens when Goolrick tells his mother about the blood when he goes to the bathroom.

3. Explain what happened when Goolrick was a boy, when he was invited to a sleep over at the McClouds.

4. Describe the events that took place with Roy and Goolrick's brother in the field.

5. What does Goolrick mean when he says he has spent his life looking for the thing that will make him into whom he wants to be?

6. What does Goolrick mean when he points out that they boys thought he was one of them?

7. Describe what happened when Goolrick's brother refused to eat when they were children.

8. Explain Goolrick's story of his "real" parents.

9. Describe Mrs. Lackman's son.

10. Explain what Goolrick means by calling his brother "a sly one" (pg. 124).

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In addition to Goolrick's sexual deviancy, he also developed a severe drinking and drug habit, and eventually, a cutting habit. Explain these addictions in detail. What events led to the origin of the addiction. What feelings did Goolrick associate with the behavior? How did this lead to an addiction? How did the cutting help Goolrick feel as though he were in control? Do you think Goolrick can ever regain control of his emotions and his life? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

It is clear that Goolrick has developed, over the years, a deviant sense of sexuality. How is this displayed in the novel? What sexual experiences does Goolrick discuss from his early youth and his teenage years that show this deviance? How do these events tie into Goolrick's fear in his teens that he was sexually poisonous, and that his touch would kill others? Why did his masturbation become such an important event to him, and how did that event become frightening and painful? How do you think this effected his overall sexuality later in life?

Essay Topic 3

When Goolrick's father dies, Goolrick admits he had planned on feeling relief, but instead felt grief. Why do you think Goolrick felt anything, considering what his father did to him? What do you think Goolrick was likely truly grieving for? Based on the final chapter of the novel, how did Goolrick feel about his father? Was he a monster? Why or why not? Did Goolrick hate him, or feel sorry for him? Why? How do you think you would have felt in his situation?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,184 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample