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 did Crystal's step-father do for a living?

2. What personal item did Crystal lose on the night of September 21st?

3. Where does Doug Lockwood live?

4. How does the author tell about Carl's experience in Vietnam?

5. What happens between Joe and Lila after she helps him clean his cuts?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Joe's honesty about his grandfather's death cause a shift in his relationship with Carl?

2. How did Grandpa Bill die?

3. What do Joe and Lila see when they compare pictures of the fire?

4. What is Lila's story?

5. How does Joe handle the man who causes Lila to run from the bar?

6. How is Doug Lockwood's house symbolic of the man himself?

7. What is discovered about Lila while they are at the bar after the play?

8. What does Carl tell Joe about looking into Crystal's murder by himself?

9. What does Carl wish to see before he dies?

10. Why does the author include a chapter about the play, "The Glass Menagerie"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Carl Iverson and Joe Talbert assume quite a bit about each other when they first meet. What are some of the assumptions and judgements they make about one another? How does Joe feel about Carl in the beginning? How does Carl feel about Joe? What might make them change their minds about each other?

Essay Topic 2

Carl's conviction for Crystal's murder marked him as a pedophile. Berthel Collins tells Joe that being labeled as a pedophile likely made Carl's prison term more difficult. Why does he think this? What does he tell Joe about prison culture in general and Stillwater Prison in particular?

Essay Topic 3

Lila Nash comes to Joe Talbert's house one night for a spaghetti dinner. While she is there they argue about Carl Iverson and if he will tell the truth to Joe when it comes to Crystal Hagen's murder. Lila seems intent on arguing with everything Joe says. How is their argument about Carl a metaphor for their relationship at the moment? How does Lila try to stop Joe from wanting to get to know her? Does it work? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 868 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample