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. What is the name of Tom and Elizabeth's hotel?

2. What does Wing do before he cries in front of George?

3. Who believes you are never be too smart for Sarah?

4. Why does Jesse's brothers and father stay silent on the farm?

5. How does the author describe Joe Welling's fits?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does George decide to do after his mother's death in the story "Death"?

2. How is Wing different around George?

3. What does the idea of death do to the writer in "The Book of the Grotesque"?

4. What makes Jesse believe that the other farmers are enemies of God?

5. What does Elizabeth and George watch happen in the alley?

6. What annoys George as he waits for Louise in the story "Nobody Knows"?

7. Why does George decide to not ask Wing about his hands?

8. Why is George careful when he counts his money on the train?

9. What happens to Wing's teaching career?

10. What do Seth and Helen talk about on their walk?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does death affect the characters of this novel? Who fears death and why? Who talks about death and why? What does death mean to some of these characters? Most importantly, what does it represent?

Essay Topic 2

The format of "Winesburg, Ohio" is unique. How does this format help Anderson convey his message about the people of Winesburg? Is this an effective device? How does the format help or hurt the stories of these characters?

Essay Topic 3

Select four women in Winesburg and describe them in terms of their relationships to other characters, their connection to the theme of communication and what they represent to the town and/or George Willard. How does Anderson use female characters in this novel?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 723 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample