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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 time of day does Tommy remember he caught a lobster?

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

3. What color are the things the girl wants to buy who comes to the store?

4. What color lobster does Tommy remember catching?

5. What day of the week does the girl always come in?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

Essay Topic 3

What readers know about events and characters in a story is determined by the point of view. What is the point of view in The Prison? How does the point of view influence what readers know about characters and events?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 759 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample