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. When Burbank family members used to bring friends from out east, what does Phil know is the purpose of these visits, especially the women?

2. What is Phil’s response when Rose calls him brother?

3. How does George surprise Phil?

4. For how long does Johnny go without drinking?

5. What does Rose admit to George about her feelings for him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are a couple things that may have turned Johnny to drink?

2. How is George kind to Rose in Chapters IV and V?

3. Why is Beech unable to grow and develop?

4. How might one describe the brothers, Phil and George?

5. How does Phil get Rose's goat regarding music?

6. How does George save Rose's day?

7. What does the narrator say about Phil's eyes in Chapter IV?

8. How does George's behavior change when he begins courting Rose?

9. How are Phil and George different from those around them?

10. How do others feel about Phil's intelligence?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Phil's funeral is short and simple. What does this reinforce about Phil's character and way of life? There is no eulogy? Why might this be? Why had neither his parents nor George volunteered to give one? What does this say about Phil's relationship with his family? How do you feel about Phil's short and simple funeral? How might he feel about it? Why?

Essay Topic 2

The haves versus the have-nots is an important idea in The Power of the Dog. How does this disparity in assets affect the relationships between the characters? How are they all - the wealthy, the middle class, and the poor - never truly happy? Why? What is missing from all of their lives?

Essay Topic 3

Rose admits towards the end of the story that she is nothing without the opinions and support of others. How is this revealed throughout the story? How does this attitude about herself affect her thoughts and actions? What might have led to having this opinion of herself?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,050 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample