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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 does the phrase "noli timere" that appears on a man's t-shirt in "Trunk" translate to from Latin?

2. From where do Jorgen Hoel and his wife move to Iowa?

3. How many chestnuts does Jorgen Hoel discover in the pocket of his smock from the night he proposed to his wife in "Nicholas Hoel"?

4. Where was Patty taken to a clinic for tests on her ears?

5. Who wrote "A leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars" (8)?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Patricia Westerford's education described? What career does she enter?

2. What leads to the downfall of Patricia Westerford's career? How is it revived?

3. What does Douglas do after his service in Vietnam?

4. What leads Adam Appich to his joining the group of activists?

5. What does Adam Appich go on to study as an adult? Why?

6. How did the American chestnut trees die?

7. What is the Life Defense Force? How does it factor into the novel?

8. How does Olivia Vandergriff's become electrocuted?

9. Where does Olivia meet Nick? What are their circumstances at the time?

10. What is the significance of the scroll and rings in Mimi Ma's backstory?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the character of Douglas Pavlicek in The Overstory. What is Douglas's backstory? How does he become involved in environmental activism? What happens to Douglas over the course of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the narrative style of The Overstory. From what narrative perspective is the novel related? Does this perspective remain static or does it change? What is the importance of this narrative style to the story?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the backstory of Nicholas Hoel. How did Nicholas become connected to trees? How does he become intertwined with the other main characters of the novel? What are Douglas's motivations?

(see the answer keys)

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