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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. When does Jo go to the police station?

2. What is Daniel's advice to Jo regarding turning Eli in to the police?

3. Jo learns that which one of her daughters had arrived during the night?

4. Jo tells Daniel she is going to meet whom in Chapter 11?

5. Why did Eli decide to move into the group house?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Daniel not respond the way Jo thinks he should when she tells him about reporting Eli to the Cambridge police?

2. How does the police detective respond when Jo tells him of Eli's murder confession?

3. How has Eli rationalized his guilt over killing Dana?

4. What does Jo learn about the police's decision regarding Eli and why is she personally angry at what the detective insinuates?

5. How do Eli's and Jo's perceptions of life in the group home differ?

6. How did Eli and Dana's relationship begin and what did Eli get Dana to agree to in a year?

7. What are Jo's thoughts as she drives to Cambridge to report Eli to the police?

8. How does Jo not pick up on why Daniel is upset with her after she meets Eli?

9. What holiday disaster had Daniel feared, and how did he avoid it?

10. Why does Daniel not seem to like Eli?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the significance of the novel's title--WHILE I WAS GONE. Why did Miller choose this title? Is there an understood message in the title? Is there another title you can suggest that might be more appropriate?

Essay Topic 2

Create a character study of Jo. What are her physical characteristics? What are her motivations? What are her fears? What are her dreams? What else can you say about Jo?

Essay Topic 3

Create a character study of Eli. What are his physical characteristics? What are his motivations? What are his fears? What are his dreams? What else can you say about Eli?

(see the answer keys)

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