Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What event occurs during the Year of Woodcarving that has a very negative effect on Ish?
2. During Ish's trip to the east, he meets a small family in Arkansas. What are they doing?
3. When Ish stays with the couple that he meets in the eastern city, he finds they will not leave. Why does Ish think they won't leave?
4. Who does Ish meet when he is loading up his station wagon for his cross-country trip?
5. In Year Five, the people create a "national pastime" out of avoiding what type of animal?
Short Essay Questions
1. Why are Bob and Dick so eager to use a brick to smash the door instead of the hammer?
2. Who gave Isherwood his name, and why?
3. What day of the year do Ish and Em choose to be their New Year's Day? Why?
4. Has Ish changed over the years? Why?
5. What is the author trying to illustrate when he shows how the young men treat Ish if he doesn't answer questions?
6. How is it significant that many of the people do not sleep in the same location that Ish does?
7. Why is Ish so concerned about finding people who can "fix" civilization?
8. Why do the young men, though they have probably suffered, have less lines in their faces than someone in the old civilization would have had?
9. What realization makes Ish feel humble beside Em? What does he finally understand?
10. What does the author mean when he talks about certain crops and mankind being interdependent? Is he trying to make a larger statement?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
In the end, Ish's version of "civilization" didn't turn out the way he planned. Is it better that his personal vision wasn't realized, or do you think that it would have been better if he could have completely restored civilization? Why or why not?
Essay Topic 2
Based on class discussions and your own research, what factors in society might have influenced George R. Stewart to write Earth Abides? What are some basic points that the author is trying to get across? What could have prompted the author to feel the need to address a particular issue, and what are his conclusions on the issue?
Essay Topic 3
As the book progresses, the author puts a number of subtle hints into the text about how things are changing. For instance, at the end of the book, immediately before Ish dies, a messenger comes to report that the tribe is going to move. Why did the author choose this point in the story for the tribe to move? Do you think they only moved because of the fire? What could the events surrounding this final scene symbolize?
This section contains 834 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) |