View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does John use to try to clean Winston’s wound?

2. What does John recall Winston said as he jumped off the jetty at Robben Island?

3. Why does John worry about the noise Winston makes in their cell in Scene One?

4. What does Winston do when he notices that John’s ear is bleeding?

5. How much time does John find out he has left after meeting with the Captain?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is John frustrated with Winston in regards to the play, Antigone?

2. How does John and Winston take care of each other in their cell after they have been beaten?

3. What do John and Winston say about their difficult day digging sand?

4. What does Winston do in the cell after Hodoshe takes John away in Scene Two?

5. What reason does John give Winston for laughing at him when he saw him dressed as Antigone?

6. What do Winston and John say about the sand they were digging after Winston wipes some from his eyes in their cell?

7. What does John say in regards to the audience potentially laughing at Winston?

8. How does Winston react to how John behaves when he sees him dressed as Antigone?

9. What does John recall about when they approached and arrived at Robben Island?

10. What does John recall about the first day he and Winston met?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay analyzing The Island’s commentary on the political climate of South Africa at the time.

Essay Topic 2

John experiences personal changes throughout the novel. In what ways does Joe change and in what ways does he remain the same? How do these changes develop the themes of Wheat that Springeth Green?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay explaining the significance of the title of The Island. How does the title support the overall narrative tone and theme of the play?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 674 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample