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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. Who does Henry think about when he arrives in St. Louis?

2. Where is Henry's pain in the present?

3. What is Henry afraid of bringing to Will?

4. What does Henry think will happen when he dies?

5. How does Claire pick Henry up?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Joe's death.

2. What happens to Henry and Claire's daughter?

3. What happens in Henry's visit to Glenwood Springs to see Claire?

4. What are Henry's fears about going home?

5. Why does Henry almost not go home?

6. What does Myra ask Henry to do about her pregnancy?

7. What had Will done in the war?

8. What is Henry's experience finding work in New York?

9. What does Henry think about finding the job of forest ranger?

10. Describe Joe's funeral.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In what way is Joe's desire to be buried with his relatives a measure of Henry's life? In what ways is it insufficient as a measure of the value of a person's life, to be buried with relatives? What is proposed instead, as a measure of value?

Essay Topic 2

Henry Lightcap's family is half-Shawnee. How much do Native American values matter in 'Fool's Progress'? How is this side of Henry's history represented? Make the argument that 'Fool's Progress' is a novel about the Native American experience. Or make the argument that it is not.

Essay Topic 3

What does drinking represent in 'Fool's Progress'? What ideas or feelings is it associated with? What is Henry doing by drinking? Celebrating something, hiding something, avoiding something? What is it, and how does Abbey describe it?

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