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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. Who is coming to visit Jacob that day?

2. Why does Jacob dislike this guest?

3. How does Rosemary react to Jacob's anger over the blinds?

4. Why has Jacob come to live at the assisted-living center?

5. Who is August, the man Marlena is speaking to in the prologue?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is jake? Why does Camel drink it?

2. With whom does Jacob have dinner the following night?

3. How does Jacob get a job working security for the cooch show that night?

4. Why does Jacob lose his appetite?

5. For how long has Jacob kept this secret?

6. What does elderly Jacob spend his day doing?

7. What news does Jacob receive in the days before his final exams?

8. What does the doctor prescribe for Jacob?

9. What does Jacob witness when he goes in search of Marlena?

10. What does Marlena ask Jacob about her horse?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Jacob's family. How does the death of Jacob's parents influence his decision to join the circus as a young man? How does the fact that his son forgot it was his day to visit influence Jacob into joining the circus the second time? What does Jacob's choice say about his state of mind? What do these choices say about Jacob's feelings toward his family, both as a young man and an old man?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss setting. What is the setting of this novel? How does the setting of this novel directly affect the actions and behaviors of the characters? What is most significant about the setting in this novel? Why do you think the author chose this setting for her novel? Would the novel's plot work if the setting had been different, such as set in the future or the more immediate past? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Why does Jacob decide to join the circus as a young man? Why does Jacob again choose to join the circus as an old man? What does Jacob, both young and old, hope to achieve by joining the circus? What does the circus mean to Jacob? Is joining the circus as an old man only about nostalgia? Why or why not?

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This section contains 797 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample