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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. How is Dolph Pillsbury connected to the troubles with the brick kiln?

2. Who takes over as Jack's father after Jack's father leaves?

3. Who is Cass Mastern?

4. Who were Jack's childhood friends?

5. Who is the narrator of the story?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Jack come to learn about the Mastern family?

2. Why does the author have Jack return home from California?

3. How does Willie react when his assistant, Sadie Burke, tells him, "Judge Irwin has come for Callahan."

4. What purpose does Chapter 4 serve for the novel?

5. What leads Jack to believe that the judge had more secret financial dealings?

6. What had happened to Anne after she breaks up with Jack and graduates college?

7. What crisis is occurring in the governor's office when Jack returns to town?

8. What is the major point of contention between Willie and Lucy about their son, Tom?

9. Why is the move to hire Adam Stanton as the administrator of Willie's new hospital so out of character for Willie?

10. Under what circumstances did Jack's parents meet?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author inserts a surprising story in as Chapter 4 regarding the Mastern family. What lessons is the author trying to teach in this chapter? Is it the evil of slavery? The sins of marital infidelity? The burden of guilt and remorse? Explain your position.

Essay Topic 2

Some psychologists might say that Tom Stark's indiscriminate behavior is a child calling for help. Do you agree or disagree with this premise? What do you think Tom truly wants from his parents? Do you think Willie is so permissive with Tom because Willy had to work so hard on the farm when he was a boy? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author's use of the literary technique of flashbacks in the novel. What is the purpose of a flashback? Is the information gleaned from the flashbacks sufficient to flesh out the bones of the literary framework the author has established? Is the technique of a flashback and the resulting flash forward disconcerting to the reader, even though necessary?

(see the answer keys)

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