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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 audience does Miller address in Chapter 6?

2. Miller writes specifically to appeal to what type of humor?

3. What metaphor does Miller use to describe the role of elders in transferring information to the next generation?

4. Miller suggests that submission to God's will allows God to do what for humans?

5. The author uses the prologue to do which of the following?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapters 5 and 6, Miller makes a connection between authority and love. Describe this connection.

2. The author introduces the concept of a spiritual journey in Chapter 4. Describe Miller's reaction to this spiritual journey.

3. In Chapter 1, Miller describes several events and activities in which he attempts to interact with adult men. Most of these experiences do not appear to have been successful. In addition to camping, making a derby car, and playing with a remote-controlled airplane, what other "manly man" activities may Miller have missed because he did not have a father?

4. How does Miller get to Boring, Oregon?

5. In Chapter 3, Miller admits to being resentful towards authority figures. To whom is he referring and why?

6. In Chapter 6, Authority, Miller uses a metaphor of airline pilots warning each other about weather conditions. What point is Miller illustrating with this story?

7. Miller states that his experience in which he did not get to enter a derby car in the race did not affect him. Do you agree? Why or why not?

8. In Chapter 5, what does Miller describe as crucial tasks of families?

9. In Chapter 5, Spirituality, Miller uses two paradoxes (contradictory statements or actions) to describes his relationship with God? What are they?

10. In Chapter 6, Miller's tone changes. He also more exclusively addresses his intended audience. How does his tone change and what positive and negative effect can these changes have on the reader?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

You have finished the book. Evaluate the author's ability to present his message, effectively or not, to the reader. What techniques does the author use to present his message and himself? What are the strengths of this method of memoir writing? What are the limitations of this approach to memoir writing? Does the author have biases in the book? What worked for you as you read this book? What did not? Use examples from the book to support your opinion.

Essay Topic 2

Education is another area in a boys life that is impacted by the absence of a father. Miller talks about his educational turning points. Identify the two turning points he describes in Chapter 13. Discuss why they were significant experiences for him.

Essay Topic 3

Most books have many characters. Memoirs, in particular, are often very focused on a person and his/her family. Who were the primary characters in this book? What techniques did the author present these characters to the reader? What do you know about these characters? What do you believe should have been shared with the reader that was not? Do the characters change across the book? If yes, how? What are the strengths of the way in the primary characters were presented? The limitations? How did you respond to these characters as the book developed.

(see the answer keys)

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