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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 happened to Ellen James that made her famous?

2. How does Duncan get to his friend's house?

3. Who was Robert Muldoon?

4. What sport does Garp eventually end up playing at Steering?

5. Who is the author of the book Mrs. Ralph has in her car?

Short Essay Questions

1. What important role does "Cushie" play in Garp's life while he's at Steering?

2. Garp dies at the age of 33. Why is this number important to know in literature?

3. When they are first introduced in the novel, what do the Ellen Jamesians symbolize?

4. What does Garp's dream (when Duncan is at Ralph's house) symbolize?

5. What does Jenny's insistence that she continue to wear her nurse's uniform symbolize?

6. What does Jenny's attack on the man in the movie theater show the reader about her character?

7. Why won't Helen read _The World According to Bensenhaver_?

8. What does Helen wish about the way Garp treats their children?

9. What part needs to be fixed on the Garps' car?

10. Who is Donald Whitcomb?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In _The World According to Garp_, motherhood is discussed both directly and indirectly. Choose three characters from the novel who are mothers (or who assume the role of mother) and discuss 1) what shape their motherhood takes, 2) to whom they are mothers, and 3) what Irving may be saying about motherhood through their character.

Essay Topic 2

Jenny always wears her nurses uniform. Choose three major points in the novel and describe what the uniform means at that point in the novel. Use quotations from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

The character of John Wolf plays a key role within the story. Is he a "good" character or a "bad" character? Does he help Jenny or hurt her? Does he help the Garp family or hurt them? Make sure to use at least three examples from the text to support your position.

(see the answer keys)

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