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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. How does Tommy describe the girl's mother?

2. Why does Tommy have tears in his eyes after he catches the girl stealing?

3. What type of day is Tommy having when a young girl comes into the store?

4. Who told Tommy that he had to throw the lobster back?

5. What does Tommy feel like doing when he sees the girl stealing?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Tommy compare the ten-year-old girl who comes to the store with her mother?

2. What does Tommy remember catching with his uncle Dom once?

3. What does Tommy consider doing when he sees the girl stealing?

4. What are Tommy's thoughts when he brings the paper to the girl?

5. How does Tommy notice that the girl steals some candy bars?

6. How is the girl different from other kids who come into the store?

7. What does a ten-year-old girl buy and why?

8. What does Tommy remember doing with his Uncle Dom?

9. Why did a cop tell Tommy and Uncle Dom to throw back a lobster they caught, and why did they keep the lobster?

10. What type of day is Tommy having when a young girl comes into the store?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Conflicts between characters are often caused by problems and are external conflicts. Conflicts can also be internal when a character has a conflict with himself or herself. Describe a couple of conflicts in the story and whether they are external or internal conflicts.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 800 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample