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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. What sound alerts Grady to Crabtree's presence in his house in Chapter 16?

2. What type of weather is occurring when Grady goes outside in Chapter 17?

3. Grady says in Chapter 20, "It's always been hard for me to tell the difference between denial and what used to be known as" (177) what?

4. Which member of Grady's family killed the man named David Glucksbringer?

5. Which character does Grady find fast asleep on top of the manuscript of Wonder Boys in Chapter 33?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the symbolism of horse chestnut trees in the novel Wonder Boys?

2. What happened to the Warshaws' one biological child?

3. What is Emily's reaction when Grady attempts to speak with her in Chapter 22?

4. In what location does Grady find James when he goes looking for him at the Warshaws' house in Chapter 23?

5. How does Crabtree determine the address of James's grandparents, Amanda and Fred Leer?

6. In what way do the themes of guilt and responsibility appear within Chapter 27?

7. In what way does the theme of appearance versus reality appear in tandem with Grady's characterization of the "midnight disease" (23)?

8. What strange collection of objects does Grady have in the trunk of his car by the end of Chapter 28?

9. When Grady and James arrive at the Warshaws' house in Kinship, how long has it been since Grady saw Irving? What kind of care does Irving immediately provide to Grady?

10. How does Chabon create suspense at the end of Chapter 33 and for what purpose does he create it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the ways in which the themes of adaptability and resignation appear within Chabon’s novel Wonder Boys. What message is Chabon sending about these two themes over the course of the narrative?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the many instances of irony within the narrative of Wonder Boys, and analyze Chabon’s purpose for including each instance you discuss.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Chabon's treatment of class within the book Wonder Boys. What are the messages Chabon is attempting to send to the audience and which characters are utilized to relay these messages?

(see the answer keys)

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