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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 the name of the motel where Jack stays when he arrives in Texas?

2. Moments before waking up next to his late mother's corpse, Jack dreams about which parts of his body falling off?

3. Which human character is found to have the words "CANT and MUST" (336) tattooed on his fingers?

4. The investigative team finds that the main entrance to the Marysville Hole has been plugged with what substance?

5. Holly confides in which character that she thinks the substance left behind by the Outsider is material left over from each metamorphosis?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kinds of supplies does the investigative team purchase at Home Depot?

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

3. What does the cantaloupe in Ralph's story symbolize?

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

5. How is the theme of family bonds depicted in the relationship between Lovie Ann and Claude?

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

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

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

9. What promise does Jeannie elicit from Ralph before he travels to meet the rest of the investigative team?

10. What is King's reason for alluding to a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the interplay between the resolution of The Outsider and one of the novel's main messages. How does King make connections between these elements and how does their juxtaposition help them get across one main message of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss King's decision to include humor within the text of The Outsider. What purpose did King have in mind when including these instances of humor and how does the inclusion of these instances support the overarching themes and messages of the text?

Essay Topic 3

Read a lengthy interview with King. Write an essay explaining the connection between several of King’s answers and a major theme presented within the text of The Outsider.

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This section contains 1,096 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample