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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 type of school do Loretta's children attend?

2. Why is Howard fired from his job?

3. In what condition is Maureen at the beginning of the second book?

4. Where does Mrs. Wendall live after Howard's death?

5. What does Loretta do every night while waiting for Pat to come home?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is happening to Maureen as she begins to come out of her catatonia?

2. How does Jules' relationship with Nadine end?

3. How does Mrs. Wendall react to the barn fire?

4. What does Jules do at the end of Chapter 7 of the third book?

5. What does Jules do while trying to perform a magic trick for Maureen?

6. What is the relationship between Samson Wendall and Jules?

7. What happens to Jules in Tulsa?

8. To whom does Maureen write her letters?

9. What is Jules and Nadine's relationship like after their reunion?

10. Why does Howard leave the farm in Chapter 6 of the first book?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Loretta doesn't understand why she has no connection with her children as adults. What do you think is the reason for the disconnect between them? Is there anything that Loretta could have done differently? Why does Loretta hypothesize that maybe she had the wrong children? Do you think she really believes this? Or is she simply trying to find a reason so she doesn't have to feel guilty? Do you think the disconnect is a result of Loretta's parenting, the family's situation, or a combination of the two? Why? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

When Howard dies, Jules struggles to remember anything about him, and knows only that he doesn't want to suffer the same fate with his own children. Why do you think this is so? Does Jules know why he feels this way about his father? Do you think he has a plan for how to avoid this fate with his children? What are some factors that contributed to Jules' lack of a relationship with his father? How might Jules remedy these problems with his own children? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

Violence is another prominent theme throughout the course of the novel. How do violent actions, perpetuated by the main characters and others, affect the lives of the main characters? What changes occur as a result of these actions? Why does the theme of violence seem so closely related with the theme of poverty? Do you think that a less poverty-stricken lifestyle would have resulted in less violence in the lives of the main characters? Why or why not? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

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