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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. In Chapter One, what reason does the person give for coming to Charlie's house in the middle of the night?

2. Which description does NOT fit Jeffrey?

3. What stolen object from Mad Jack Lionel's yard can make a child a mythical hero?

4. What sends Charlie racing from his room when he awakens in Chapter Three?

5. From what sort of tree is Laura's body hanging?

Short Essay Questions

1. It is shocking that Jasper wants to hide Laura's body in the river. Does he respect her?

2. In what ways is Eliza similar to Audrey Hepburn's movie characters?

3. What are some of the problems between Charlie and his mother?

4. How does the use of allusions help to highlight some of the themes in Chapter Two?

5. Why does Jeffrey really come to Charlie's window in Chapter Four?

6. What is ironic about Charlie's nickname for An Lu's garden?

7. Why does Charlie debate telling Eliza (or not telling her) what he knows about Laura's death?

8. What advice does Charlie's dad, Wesley, give Charlie about dealing with his mother?

9. How does Charlie's research into killers affect the way he thinks about his town?

10. In what ways is the relationship between Charlie's parents built on a shaky foundation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the end, many people - especially Charlie's parents - have broken his trust or disappointed him immensely. Write an essay that explores the reasons behind Charlie's feelings of being hurt, and what lessons he can take from these disappointments.

Essay Topic 2

It appears that the marginalized often strive to subjugate others even more than they have been pressed down themselves. Write an essay in which you detail such instances in the novel, and make connections between the characters who are the subjugated, and those who are the oppressor.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay in which you detail the ways in which the Sylvia Likens case is similar to circumstances in Corrigan and to Laura Wishart's life.

(see the answer keys)

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