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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. Who takes over the prosecution of the case involving Ben's murder after Andy is removed?

2. To what location had Ben been walking when he was murdered?

3. How does Andy say he feels about men of his father's generation?

4. Jonathan tells which person that he or she is the ultimate decision-maker when it comes to the murder case?

5. Andy tells Duffy that who will make a fool of Duffy in court if Duffy does not run a clean and thorough investigation?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Duffy and how does Andy feel about him?

2. What major realization about life does Andy describe arriving at as a result of meeting Laurie in college?

3. What is posted on Facebook about a knife of Jacob's and by whom is it posted?

4. In relation to Ben's murder, when does Andy testify in front of the grand jury?

5. What is the symbolism of the look of distaste on Laurie's face when Andy takes her hand in the courthouse elevator?

6. What action does Dan Rifkin take against Andy once Jacob comes under suspicion?

7. How does William Landay use the changed relationship between Andy and Duffy to indicate Andy's profound sense of isolation following Jacob's indictment for murder?

8. How is the motif of dreams and visions present within Chapter 3?

9. What is the clue that points most markedly to Jacob's involvement in Ben's murder?

10. What connection does Andy draw among "children, drunks, and schizophrenics" (129)?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the novel's message concerning violence and the human condition?

Essay Topic 2

William Faulkner once famously claimed that the most important literature deals with the subject of the human heart in conflict with itself. Explain how the theme of Human versus Self is demonstrated within William Landay's novel Defending Jacob.

Essay Topic 3

How is the topic of family bonds treated within the novel and what does the author want the reader to understand more fully about family relationships as a result of reading the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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