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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 is the "eighth planet, named after the king of the sea"?

2. Who built George's house?

3. What is the name of Ezra Morell's son and George's childhood best friend?

4. Where is George's workshop located?

5. Where does Marjorie live?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is George's condition described in the beginning of Chapter 1? Where is George located, and what does he ask for when he first awakens?

2. What does George think about as he begins his chores on Monday in Chapter 2, Part 1? What does Howard think about?

3. What "odd jobs" of Howard Crosby's are described in Chapter 1?

4. How does George become injured when he witnesses his father's seizure in Chapter 2, Part 1?

5. Who is George's father in the narrative? What did George's father do for a living?

6. What is ironic about George's role within his family, as illustrated in Chapter 2, Part 2?

7. What memories of George's are described "one hundred and sixty-eight hours" before George's death in Chapter 1?

8. How would you describe the differences between George and Howard Crosby in terms of their successes in life?

9. How does the author go about illustrating the opposite natures of George and Howard in Chapter 2?

10. What thoughts does Howard have regarding human perception of one's condition in the end of Chapter 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the theme of heartache in Tinkers. How does Howard perceive the feelings of heartache and loss that he feels each day? How does George perceive these feelings within himself? What does it say about George and Howard that they perceive pain so differently?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the author’s literary allusions in Tinkers to The Scarlet Letter. When was The Scarlet Letter written? What subject matter is the story focused on? Where did Nathaniel Hawthorne supposedly attend college with the hermit Gilbert in Tinkers? What similarities do you see between the subjects and themes of The Scarlet Letter and Tinkers? Why do you think the author chooses to allude to this novel in Tinkers?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the symbolism and imagery depicted in George’s building of the funeral pyre for the dead mouse in Chapter 2. Why does George do this? What does Howard think as he watches his son? What does this action tell you about George’s character?

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