View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Arthur, Roman is an ___________ and ___________ character.

2. According to Reta, what is the most egregious change Arthur suggests she make in her novel?

3. What does Reta remember about Tom's childhood as they walk in the cemetery?

4. What great themes of literature does Reta tell Helt she learned while in high school?

5. In what month does Reta write her letter to Ford-Halpern?

Short Essay Questions

1. In her letter to Russell Sandor, Reta states that she fears nothing. Why does she feel this way and how does she prove it in her letter?

2. In her letter about the death of Peter Harding, how does Reta compare herself to Norah?

3. What does Reta notice on Norah's wrists that cause Tom to forget his trilobites and research stress and trauma?

4. How does the staff's response at the hostel regarding Norah's gloves indicate her invisibility as a street person?

5. How does Arthur feel about Roman, the other main character in Reta's novel?

6. According to Reta, what is the "worry word" of life and why is it significant?

7. At the hospital, what does Natalie reveal about the injuries to Norah's hands?

8. Why does Reta make an exception in sending her letter to Russell Sandor, a short story writer?

9. When Reta and Tom consult a psychiatrist about Norah, what does he tell them and how do they respond?

10. Why does Arthur Springer call one day after Christmas and what is Reta's response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Shields' portrayal of the media in the novel, responding to the following questions:

1. What role does the media have in advancing the plot?

2. What is Reta's relationship to the media?

3. Is it an amicable or hostile relationship and why?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the role of writing in the novel, responding to the following questions:

1. What is the function of Reta's writing in portraying her ideas about the world?

2. Do Reta's novels and letters serve the same purpose? Why or why not?

3. How does Danielle's writing compare with Reta's in terms of its significance?

Essay Topic 3

Another major theme in the novel is the issue of homelessness and its consequences for the people affected by it.

1. Identify some preconceptions about homelessness that are disproved by the characters' actions.

2. What is Shields' overall message about people who are homeless?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 825 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample