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. Jo says that she and Daniel may be too ________________________.

2. What was Dana doing when Eli had arrived to talk to her on the one-year date for the discussion about their relationship?

3. Where is Jo headed when she leaves the house in Chapter 13?

4. What is Daniel reminded of as Jo recounts the events at the police station?

5. What is the occasion for Jo's party?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the setting in which Eli killed Dana.

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

3. What type of party does Jo want to have, and whom does she make a special point to call and invite?

4. How does Jo indicate with her actions what she hopes will come from reconnecting with Eli?

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

6. Describe the pleasant evening Eli and Jean spend at Jo and Daniel's holiday party.

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

8. Why do Jo and Eli meet, and what do each of them say about their respective marriages?

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

10. What does Jo notice about Cass' physical appearance, and why is she concerned?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the major settings for the novel. Why does Miller use those settings? What is the time period of the story? How important is the time period to the attitudes and issues of the characters?

Essay Topic 2

Substance abuse seems to be an unnamed character in the book. How pervasive is the abuse? Why does it have such a prevalent place in the characters' lives? How does it affect the abusers? How does it affect those impacted by the abusers? Explain how an inanimate object or characteristic can be a character.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Miller's writing style. How is she different from other writers of her time? What are some of her characteristic writing techniques? Identify some examples of her classic style in WHILE I WAS GONE.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,247 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample