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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. Where is Henny's special place?

2. What makes Sam a hero to his department?

3. What do Sam and Henny argue about when they consider Sam's departure?

4. What do Louie's cousins teacher her?

5. What did Louie's mother say about Sam when she was dying?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Sam's relationship with Colonel Willets?

2. What news does Jo bring when she comes?

3. How does the narrator characterize Sam's world view?

4. Describe Sam's return home.

5. Describe Josephine Pollit's arrival at Tohoga House.

6. Describe the opening scene of 'The Man Who Loved Children'.

7. What does Louie do at Beulah's house?

8. How do the two trips, to Harper's Ferry and to Monocacy, show us different sides of Louie's character?

9. How does Henny get reprieve from the children at Tohoga House?

10. Describe the trip to Washington D.C. to buy shoes for the children.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

To what extent is 'The Man Who Loved Children' a woman's book? What markers are there to say that this is written from a female author's perspective and this perspective is different from what a man's perspective might be?

Essay Topic 2

The story of Bonnie's baby gives the primary narrative of Louie, Sam, and Henny's relationship a greater depth and resonance. What does this subplot contribute to the book? What themes does it resonate with, and what part of this story, if any, threatens to overtake the primary narrative? Is it too emotional, too hidden, or too unspeakable? What keeps this subplot from being more important to the story? What does this subplot tell you about Stead's values as a storyteller?

Essay Topic 3

The Pollits have problems inside and outside of the house. How are these two spheres related? Are the problems in one related to the problems in the other? Do they mirror, echo, follow each other? What strategies do the Pollits have for solving these problems? Do their solutions apply from one sphere to the other?

(see the answer keys)

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