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| Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What year is it in Chapter 8 of the second book?
2. What prevents Nadine from committing fully to a relationship with Jules?
3. Who has been visiting Loretta and her children in Chapter 7 of the second book?
4. Who is Miss Oates?
5. In what way has Maureen changed since the beginning of the novel?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
The pronoun "them" is not only the title of the novel, but it is an idea alluded to many times throughout the story. What does the author mean by "them"? Who is she talking about? What point is she trying to convey by grouping so many different people under a single pronoun? What effect does the usage of this term have on your perception of the characters? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.
Essay Topic 2
Brock is a minor character in the novel, but he plays an important role. He is the reason why Loretta meets and marries Howard, and he is also the one to bring Maureen out of her catatonia. How can these two very dissimilar actions--his murder of Bernie, and his role in Maureen's recovery--be resolved in terms of his character? Why do you think the author chooses to assign both of these important, and very different, actions to a single character? Knowing all that you do about Brock, what is your opinion of his character? Why do you think he disappears from the plot so suddenly? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.
Essay Topic 3
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.
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This section contains 402 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) |
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