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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 does the narrator say Holston and his wife had “invited into their lives” in Chapter 1?

2. The narrator says of Holston in Chapter 1, “And he thought, not for the first time, that neither life nor staircase had been meant for” what?

3. How many years does Holston say it’s been since he served his wife her last meal in the holding cell in Chapter 2?

4. What is Holston’s position of employment in the novel?

5. Allison says in Chapter 3 that there was a revolt just about how often?

Short Essay Questions

1. From what narrative point of view is the story related? Is the narrative told in the past, present, or future tense?

2. How does the character of Allison relate to Holston’s objectives in the story?

3. What is the principle setting of Wool? In what time period does the story take place?

4. What superstitions from his past does Holston recall in Chapter 1?

5. What is the theory that Allison presents to Holston in Chapter 3?

6. What does Allison initially point out to Holston in the beginning of Chapter 3?

7. How is Mayor Jahns’s demeanor described when she meets with Holston in Chapter 2?

8. What does Holston notice about the view from the holding room in the beginning of Chapter 2?

9. What is the protagonist doing when he is first introduced in Chapter 1?

10. What thoughts does Holston have regarding the pixels in Chapter 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define the narrative point of view established in the first chapter of Wool. Is the story related from first, second, or third person? Is the narrator’s perspective limited or omniscient? Is the story told in the present or past tense? What are the effects of these choices on the reader? Does the narrative point of view change in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Plot Structure

a. Discuss the plot structure of Wool. In what ways is the narrative related and what effects does this have on the reader?

b. How does Wool compare with other novels written during this time period? Are there specific stylistic elements that can be seen in Howey’s writing?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the character of Allison in the novel. How long have Allison and Holston been married, based on your estimations from the text? What is their relationship like? When did Allison die? How did she die?

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