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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 turns the villagers against Wang Lung during the hard times after the drought in Chapter 8?

2. What is the name of the southern city that Wang Lung's family lives in during the famine in Chapter 11?

3. What items did Wang Lung's father take to the House of Hwang to secure Wang Lung's marriage to their slave-girl?

4. Where does the American woman ask Wang Lung to transport her in Chapter 11?

5. Who assists O-lan in childbirth in Chapter 3?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who brings Wang Lung's wife to him in Chapter 1? How is this character described?

2. What activities take place as the New Year celebration approaches in Chapter 5?

3. How does Wang Lung perceive his wedding day when he awakens in Chapter 1?

4. How does O-lan describe the fall of the House of Hwang in Chapter 5?

5. How does O-lan go about earning money to keep her family alive once they've reached the city in Chapter 11?

6. What about Wang Lung's uncle's family vexes Wang Lung in Chapter 7?

7. What conflict does Wang Lung encounter at the barber's in Chapter 1?

8. What actions are taken after O-lan gives birth to a son in Chapter 4? Why?

9. What does Wang Lung vow to do in regards to his land in Chapter 6?

10. What information does Ching relate to Wang Lung when he returns to his land in Chapter 15?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why do you think the author has chosen to relate the narrative of The Good Earth from a third-person narrator? How would the story differ if it were related from Wang Lung’s point of view? Is the narrator’s perspective limited or omniscient and how does this affect the reader?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast Wang Lung’s sons in the narrative. How are they similar? How are they different? What does Wang Lung expect from each of his sons? Who defies Wang Lung? How?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the character of O-lan in The Good Earth. How old is O-lan when she is sold into slavery? What leads to O-lan’s marriage to Wang Lung? Do you think that O-lan is happy to be married? Why or why not? How does O-lan’s character evolve in the course of the narrative?

(see the answer keys)

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