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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 is Paul's expression after Mother's birthday described?

2. What does Paul bet on to make money?

3. How does Mother feel after she gets her birthday money?

4. What answer does Mother get about Paul's last words?

5. Who does Paul win the money in the big race for?

Short Essay Questions

1. What changes in Mother after she gets the birthday gift?

2. Why isn't Paul personally present at the Derby?

3. What is symbolic about the clothing worn by Mother the night of her party?

4. How does Paul learn about what happens at the Derby?

5. What ends up actually happening with Paul's winnings from the races?

6. How is Mother unlucky even after getting rich?

7. What happens after Paul tells Mother the winning name for the Derby?

8. What does Mother show by the way she reacts to her birthday gift?

9. How does the book end?

10. What is symbolic in Paul's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The characters in this book all had their own goals and motivations. Select four characters and write their main motivation throughout the book, and how this goal affected the characters around them.

Essay Topic 2

Please describe how Paul used the rocking horse, and what symbolism this had on the book.

Essay Topic 3

What were some of the forms of foreshadowing used in this book, and how did those moments affect the course of the plot?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 624 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample