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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. What is one class Jerome mentions he enjoys?

2. What will be unique about Jerome's situation?

3. What difference does Jerome describe concerning sports leagues?

4. What happens when Jerome calls Braxton Rivers "luck"?

5. What tune does the horn of one of the trucks play?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jerome say about regaining his sense of privacy and how he is mistaken?

2. Who shows up to cheer for Bix, and what are Jerome's observations about her and Bix's reaction to her?

3. What does the driver of the grill truck say to Jerome?

4. What other things does Jerome write about this secret court?

5. What does Jerome want to do in church and what does he decide to do for Bix?

6. What does the school counselor suggest to help Jerome with his new responsibilities at home and what do the two finally agree for Jerome to do?

7. Who accompanies Jerome to the basketball court one day and how does Jerome feel about that?

8. How is Jerome's attention forced away from his attempt to make friends?

9. What is Jerome doing the night he meets Bix?

10. Who does the narrator, Jerome, introduce and what does he say about where the young man is?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The book's concluding moments draw Jerome's journey of transformation, his coming of age, to a close. Over the course of The Moves Make the Man, Jerome grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. The Moves Make the Man might be considered a slice of Jerome's larger story of his "coming of age." It might be said that The Moves Make the Man is a "bildungsroman" of Jerome Foxworthy. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Jerome as he changes from a more carefree, innocent boy to a wiser, young man. What are the significant events that change Jerome?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Jerome's growth throughout The Moves Make the Man, do you think The Moves Make the Man could be considered Jerome's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in The Moves Make the Man who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

Essay Topic 2

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of The Moves Make the Man and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why The Moves Make the Man is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as The Moves Make the Man help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading The Moves Make the Man? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in The Moves Make the Man to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

(see the answer keys)

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