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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. On what street is the candy store located?

2. Who paid to set up the candy store where Tommy works?

3. How much money did Tommy make when he took in punchboards for a syndicate?

4. What day of the week is the candy store closed?

5. What was Rosa's maiden name?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Tommy get in trouble?

2. Who were the shoe boys?

3. What was Rosa's reaction when Tommy put a slot machine in the candy store?

4. How did Tommy get out of trouble after the holdup?

5. What is Tommy's life like?

6. Why did Tommy run to Texas for a while?

7. What was Tommy like when he was a kid and went by his birth name, Tony?

8. How was Tommy able to save $55 that Rosa does not know about?

9. What happened to the slot machine Tommy put in the candy store, and how did that keep Tommy out of trouble?

10. What type of schedule does Tommy keep?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Accumulation is a literary device that allows an author to gather scattered ideas in a literary work and gradually build on information readers need to know. From whose perspective is The Prison told? How does Malamud use accumulation to advance the plot and provide readers with important details about Tommy and his life?

Essay Topic 2

In The Prison, Tommy is the only round or dynamic character. What is the importance of the other characters as flat or static characters? When there is conflict, what role do these characters play?

Essay Topic 3

Backstories are used to present information about events that happened before situations in a story. How do backstories provide insight into Tommy’s life? What is the importance of backstories in The Prison?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 758 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample