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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 does Levi decide to do to show support?

2. Of whom do several of the customers at the restaurant remind Levi?

3. What happened once when Boaz was riding in a Humvee?

4. Where does Levi take his skateboard?

5. What does Celine do before leaving the two young men?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Levi do after they check in to a motel?

2. What does Celine say to Levi about her brother?

3. Where is Boaz headed first?

4. What does Boaz say about why he walks?

5. Describe Levi's conversation with Christina.

6. Where does Levi go when he splits off from Jack and Boaz and who does he meet?

7. What story does Boaz tell the crowd at the Vietnam Memorial?

8. What happens when Levi follows Boaz after Boaz leaves the restaurant?

9. What do Celine and Levi discuss about their brothers?

10. What does Levi do in Boaz's room and what action does he decide to take?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of The Things a Brother Knows, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in The Things a Brother Knows. (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot.) Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not? Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Over the course of The Things a Brother Knows, Levi grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. The Things a Brother Knows might be considered a slice of Levi's larger story of his "coming of age." It might be said that The Things a Brother Knows is a "bildungsroman" of Levi Katznelson. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Levi as he changes from a more carefree, innocent boy to a wiser, young man. What are the significant events that change Levi?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Levi's growth throughout The Things a Brother Knows, do you think The Things a Brother Knows could be considered Levi's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in The Things a Brother Knows who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

Essay Topic 3

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as The Things a Brother Knows help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading The Things a Brother Knows? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in The Things a Brother Knows to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

(see the answer keys)

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