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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. What do the boys of the town have time to do?

2. Almeda lives in a ________________ society.

3. In what year was the book of poetry written?

4. How did Almeda's mother die?

5. What does Almeda think she would be if Jarvis were to ask her for a drive in the country?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do the pressures of society weigh on Almeda?

2. What is Almeda shocked by the woman's body and whose help does she enlist?

3. What does Almeda think about in her delirious state?

4. How does Almeda describe the swamp she sees from her window?

5. Why does Almeda now live alone?

6. What does Almeda decide that the name and premise of her amazing poem will be?

7. Where does Almeda live?

8. Almeda is finally exhausted and falls asleep to be awakened by what disturbing noise?

9. What does Almeda do as she sits in her dark house?

10. What is distinctive about the protagonist?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in the story. Which of the characters are lonely? Are they all lonely in some way? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

Essay Topic 2

The author provides the perspective of Almeda's view of the world throughout the story. Choose two situations in the book which also involve other characters and create a brief synopsis of how they viewed the same situations.

Essay Topic 3

Create a brief character study on Almeda. What does she look like? What are her positive personality traits? What are some of her negative characteristics? What are her hopes and fears? What motivates her--if anything--at this point in her life?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 655 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample