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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 Gunnar tell the officers when they ask whether he is involved in any gangs?

2. Why does Gunnar say Franz serves his master faithfully?

3. When Gunnar reads what is his favorite kind of book?

4. Why doesn't Compton return home one night?

5. What type of social situation does Gunnar hate the most?

Short Essay Questions

1. With what coach does Gunnar develop a relationship and how did the coach learn to play his sport?

2. What does Gunnar do when he returns to class following his health examination?

3. What does Gunnar recall about living in Santa Monica in Chapter 2 and why does he join the Cub Scouts? How does the Scouts work out for him?

4. Where does Gunnar's father work, what does he do and what does Gunnar notice when he visits his father at work?

5. How does the Gun Totin' Hooligans decide to avenge Pumpkin and why is Gunnar involved? How does their plan work out?

6. Where does Gunnar go to avoid beatings, what does he do there and how does he still get beat?

7. Why did Rolf go to a white high school and what happens to him in Vietnam?

8. What does Psycho do to get Gunnar to dance and how does their time at dances often end?

9. Why does Gunnar's mother send her children outside and where do they go? In what kind of condition is the place?

10. What is one of Gunnar's favorite past times from a young age and what is he known for among his friends?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in The White Boy Shuffle. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of individual freedom in The White Boy Shuffle. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess individual freedom? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of tradition in The White Boy Shuffle. What is Gunnar's view of tradition? Gunnar's mother? Nick's? Gunnar's father. Why is tradition important to some characters? Is anyone willing to abandon traditional viewpoints? Who? What are the positive and negative sides to holding fast to tradition?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think it is important that The White Boy Shuffle was written? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think The White Boy Shuffle did what the author set out to do? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Explain why you might or might not read another book by this author about another black person. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in The White Boy Shuffle.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of The White Boy Shuffle. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of The White Boy Shuffle. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,189 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample