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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. Whose house does Clyde start spending time at?

2. Where do Clyde and Roberta dance?

3. Where does Sparser flip the car?

4. What does Clyde receive an invitation to attend?

5. What is the name of Clyde's cousin?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way are Clyde's faults exposed in chapter 9, book two?

2. What do you think is Clyde's main weakness?

3. Why does Heit get in contact with Orville Mason?

4. How does Dreiser use the crime to show the American class structure?

5. What do you think drives Clyde to pursue Sondra and ignore Roberta?

6. In what ways is Clyde becoming a less sympathetic character?

7. How do the autopsy results change the whole perplexion of the case?

8. In what way does the landscape play an important part in chapter 29, book 1?

9. How does Roberta's moral upbringing affect her relationship with Clyde?

10. What important decision does Clyde make in chapter 40, book 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Both Clyde and Roberta are restricted by their moral upbringings. Using two examples from the book discuss how their upbringings affect their decisions in the book. Do you think their moral upbringings were more destructive than helpful?

Essay Topic 2

The novel depicts the class system in America in the twenties.

1) How and why was life changing for the working classes in twenties America? How difficult was it for a member of the working classes to make an impact on society?

2) What were the role of the upper classes in twenties America? How much control did they have?

3) Do you think there is still a recognizable class system in America? In what ways has it changed?

Essay Topic 3

The book ends with Clyde being executed. What are your views on capital punishment? Why do you think society has become less tolerant of capital punishment?

(see the answer keys)

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