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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 did Carmel show Paula she cared while she was being abused?

2. Why did Paula not kill herself?

3. What did Paula tell doctors her bruises came from?

4. Why does Paula refuse to see Mr. Fleming?

5. How old was Mrs. Fleming when she died?

Short Essay Questions

1. What changed in the relationship between Paula's parents as Paula got older?

2. How did Paula spend her wedding night?

3. What kind of character is Mrs. Fleming, and what does she do for the plot?

4. What does Paula beg of the reader, and why?

5. Who does Paula blame for the abuse she received from Charlo, and why?

6. What was Paula's wedding gift from her mother-in-law, and why does Paula think she gave this?

7. How does Paula imagine Kevin's life is like after his wife's death?

8. How did Sally die?

9. What did Paula say to herself every time Charlo hit her?

10. Why did Charlo think one gun would be enough to make the bank robbery successful?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Belonging and security were two themes present in this novel. Where did these themes appear, and which characters were most motivated by them?

Essay Topic 2

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

Essay Topic 3

Fear is a common theme in this book that is presented a number of times by a number of characters. What are some of these instances, and how does fear affect the characters in the book?

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This section contains 616 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample