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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. Holly reflects upon the fact that before meeting Bill Hodges, she had experienced how many nervous breakdowns?

2. The movie Holly shows to the rest of the investigative team features what type of professional in the role of kidnapper?

3. What promise does Ralph make to Jeannie in Chapter 5 of the novel's section entitled No End to the Universe?

4. With what vice does Holly claim to struggle during a conversation with Claude?

5. The story about footsteps takes place in what kind of environment?

Short Essay Questions

1. What comments does Claude make about Claude's overall personality?

2. What is June's reason for being confused about her decision to save Fred?

3. What connection does June have to Fred's family tragedy?

4. Who is Bill Hodges and how does Ralph remind Holly of this man?

5. How does the motif of dreams enter the narrative in relation to Jack?

6. What do the two words tattooed on Claude's hands symbolize?

7. In what way does The Outsider contain commentary about race and culture?

8. Who provides assistance to Fred at the scene of his attempted suicide?

9. In what manner did Terry come into contact with The Outsider, ultimately resulting in his indictment for murder?

10. What characteristic of the corpse lying next to Jack in bed convinces him of its identity?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a critical essay about The Outsider while using the critical power theory lens of feminist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the novel's treatment of gender roles, the objectification of women, female empowerment, misogyny's role within society, or any other issues related to feminist theory that can be found in the novel.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss King's choice to tell the story of The Outsider using a third person omniscient narrator. What elements of the novel's themes lend themselves to this choice and what are King’s intended effects on the reader?

Essay Topic 3

How are the topics of romantic relationships, love, and sex treated within the novel The Outsider and how does their treatment relate to the novel's depicted messages?

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This section contains 1,087 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample