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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 color is Kathleen's hair described as in Chapter 2?

2. How often does the narrator say Kathleen washes her hair in the summer in Chapter 2?

3. Where did the hermit whose tooth Howard pulls attend college?

4. The one occurrence when George witnesses one of his father's grand mal seizures is during Christmas dinner in what year?

5. The narrator says of Howard in Chapter 2, "He resented his resentment because it was a sign of" what?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the natural phenomenon of lightning used as a metaphor in Chapter 1?

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

3. How would you compare the imagery of Howard's home and George's home in the novel?

4. How does the narrator describe George's attempt to make a memoir by cassette tape in Chapter 1?

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

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

7. How would you describe George's relationship to animals and nature based upon his actions in Chapter 2?

8. How is the setting described when George awakens "one hundred and thirty-two hours" before he dies in Chapter 1?

9. What is signified by Howard's action of building a fire after his seizure in Chapter 1, Part 2?

10. 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?

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

Analyze and discuss the character of Gilbert in the novel. Other than Howard, who does Gilbert associate with? Where does Gilbert live? What similarities do Gilbert and Howard Crosby share? How are these characters different? What do you think that Gilbert’s character represents symbolically in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the character of Cullen in the novel. What is Cullen’s business relationship to Howard Crosby? How would you describe Cullen’s business practices? Do you think that Howard gives a fair assessment of Cullen? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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