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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. About whom does Ann ask Loomis?

2. What does Ann think about in a flashback to right after the war?

3. Where has Ann been on the morning of the opening of the book?

4. How many people has Loomis met on his journey?

5. How long was the war?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Loomis say he was developing before the war?

2. What is the situation in the valley about the water supply?

3. Why is the valley special?

4. What does Ann decide to do to make cooking easier in the house?

5. Why does Ann bring Loomis into her home?

6. What does the man say possibly happened to Ann's family?

7. What happens that convinces Ann that the man knows nothing about farm life and what is her response?

8. What does the man in the suit do when he finally arrives at Ann's house?

9. Why does Ann decide to go down to the farm yard and what does she discover?

10. What does Ann daydream about as she is picking salad greens?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Z for Zachariah belongs to the literary genre of apocalyptic fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly define the term genre and offer examples of it from your own reading experience. Why do you think it is useful to categorize fiction into genres? What could be a disadvantage of doing so?

2. What do you think is the main motivation for a person to read an apocalyptic novel? Is entertainment a good enough reason? Are there any other reasons to read this genre? What? Explain fully.

3. In "academe," apocalyptic novels are often thought of as less literary than some other genres and for that reason are sometimes "snubbed" in the study of literature. Why do you think this is so? Do you agree with this "snobbery"?

Essay Topic 2

Z for Zachariah could be said to be a "bildungsroman" of Ann, the main character. Discuss the following:

1. Define the concepts "bildungsroman" and "coming of age."

2. Thoroughly trace and analyze Z for Zachariah as a bildungsroman of Ann. Give specific examples. What does Ann learn? How has she changed? Is the change for the better?

3. Do you think young people in our modern culture go through a coming of age period? Do you think the concept of "coming of age" is inherent in the human experience? Why or why not?

4. Do you think you have lived through a "coming of age" period in your own life? Discuss as thoroughly as you willing to share.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. What do you think is the purpose of irony? Discuss the irony of the situation that it appears the man could die from his radiation poisoning in a "safe" valley when he has avoided the same thing while walking through hundreds of miles of dangerous country. What other irony occurs in Z for Zachariah? Discuss two or three incidences of irony and whether they enhance your reading experience.

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use and meaning of five symbols you choose to analyze from Z for Zachariah. What do they symbolize? Is the symbolism obvious? Effective? Does the symbolism contribute to the enjoyment of reading?

3. Trace and analyze the use of foreshadowing throughout Z for Zachariah. List at least five things that occur later in the novel that are foreshadowed earlier in the novel. Does foreshadowing increase your motivation to complete a book? Why or why not?

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