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 does Jenny's father do for a living?

2. How does Garp spend his time when he first arrives in Vienna?

3. What is Dog's Head Harbor?

4. What is _The Sexual Suspect_?

5. Where does Jenny go after being fired from the hospital?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the nickname "blue and blood" for Steering's colors allude to?

2. Why does Garp want a second child?

3. What emotional experience serves as the impetus for Garp finally being able to write while in Vienna the first time?

4. What qualities in Mrs. Ralph does Garp also see in himself?

5. Who is Donald Whitcomb?

6. Why is Jenny fired from the hospital?

7. What plan does Helen come up with for helping Harrison and Alice's marriage?

8. How is Garp's second novel received?

9. What does Mrs. Ralph tell Garp that both of their sons like to do at her house?

10. Why does Jenny leave Wellesley?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At several points in the novel, characters communicate by writing short notes. Choose three instances where a character has to use notes to communicate and discuss 1) why that character must use notes, 2) what the notes symbolize, and 3) what Irving accomplishes by using the little notes as a literary device.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast two major female characters within _The World According to Garp_. What are their differences? What are their similarities? Make sure to use multiple citations from the text.

Essay Topic 3

What is your opinion of the Ellen Jamesians? Are they noble, self-sacrificing figures (as Jenny originally believes) or are they ridiculous, attention-hungry followers (as Garp believes)? Support your position by using three examples of the Ellen Jamesians and what they do from the text.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 583 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample