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. How do things change in the house after Sam returns home?

2. What do the twins tell Sam about Ernie?

3. How does the narrator characterize the house Sam finds?

4. What does Henny snap at when she is in a foul mood?

5. What does Sam think Louie's reaction will be if he reads her poetry?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the new baby strain the Pollit household?

2. Describe Saul Pilgrim's visit in June.

3. Describe the children's reaction to the marlin Sam brings home.

4. Describe Henny's fight with Louie.

5. Describe the opening of the crates from Sam's trip.

6. What does the anonymous letter Sam receives say?

7. Describe Henny's stay at Hassie's house.

8. How does the topic of poetry figure in Sam's homecoming celebration?

9. What does Sam do on account of Jo's news?

10. Describe the reading of David Collyer's will.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the significance of the title, 'The Man Who Loved Children'. Is this ironic, and if so, what is the irony? What are the two--or more--perspectives--from which this title could be seen? What effect does this irony have on our reading of the book? What does it make us focus on? How would a different title change our sense of the book?

Essay Topic 2

Would you recommend 'The Man Who Loved Children'? For what purposes would you recommend 'The Man Who Loved Children', and to what kinds of readers would you not recommend it? What book would you recommend that would cover the same material or provide the same emotional experience in a different way?

Essay Topic 3

Write an evaluative review of 'The Man Who Loved Children'. What is this book's place in culture? What are its uses? Who is its audience? What are its limitations?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 843 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample