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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 was the biology teacher at Jill's school that was fired for saying the Sudden Departure was a natural phenomenon?

2. What is the name of Melissa Hulbert's ex-husband who disappeared on Sudden Departure day?

3. Who does Jill "Get a Room" with during the game in Part Two?

4. What is the official name of the event that occurs on the Third Anniversary of the Sudden Departure day in Part One?

5. For what company does Arthur Donovan work as a technician?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Kevin’s relationship to The Carpe Diem? How often does Kevin frequent this establishment?

2. Whom did Nora Durst lose on the day of the Sudden Departure? How has this affected her?

3. What does the act of smoking cigarettes signify in the novel?

4. How would you describe the mood and tone of Mapleton in the beginning of Part One? What event is taking place?

5. Who is Wayne Gilchrest? Why has he been arrested in Part One?

6. What are the subjects of Reverend Matt Jamison’s newsletters in the novel? What are the objectives of the newsletters?

7. How would you describe Jill’s relationship with her father in Part One?

8. What does the cartoon SpongeBob Squarepants symbolize for Nora Durst?

9. How does Tom Garvey come to be the chaperone and caretaker for Christine?

10. What central metaphor is established through the narrative in Part One?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the motif of cults and exploitation in The Leftovers. What are the different cults that are highlighted in the narrative? What are the beliefs of each of these groups? How do these cults exploit their members?

Essay Topic 2

How does Tom come to be Christine’s chaperone and caretaker? Where does Tom travel with Christine? Why? How do they disguise themselves during their travels? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of abandonment in The Leftovers. Who in the story has been abandoned, either wittingly or unwittingly following the Sudden Departure? How do each of these characters come to cope with abandonment? What symbolism supports this theme?

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