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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 does Henry roast for his housewarming party?

2. What was Henry's father doing in the scene Henry remembers?

3. What does Henry's committee say about his thesis?

4. What does Henry hear when he wakes up, in Chapter 3?

5. What did Henry's father give him when he began hitchhiking?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Henry's relationships at the beginning of the novel.

2. When and why does Henry begin hitchhiking?

3. Describe Henry's visit with Bildad.

4. What is Henry's relationship with the landscape?

5. Describe Will's decision to fight in WWII and its effect on the family.

6. Describe Henry's house in El Culito.

7. What happens when Henry calls in to work?

8. What do Henry's parents say about him?

9. How would you characterize Henry Lightcap's relationships with women?

10. What does Henry think about cooking, and Elaine's cooking in particular?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is Henry's relationship with his family? In what ways is he a misfit? In what ways is he one of them?

Essay Topic 2

Write a review that assesses the value of 'Fool's Progress.' What does the book do that is different from what it sets out to do? Is there a moral, and if so, what does it teach? Is it a cautionary tale?

Essay Topic 3

How does Abbey feel about death? Henry Lightcap approaches it with bravado and panache, but what are Abbey's feelings about it, as the author?

(see the answer keys)

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