View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does King state he feels about writing for money?
(a) Writing for money is unnecessary; it will come.
(b) Everyone writes for money.
(c) Writing is art, and as such, it may not pay.
(d) One cannot write in anticipation of making money.

2. After Tabitha King's intervention in King's addictions, he makes some changes in his life. What change does he make in his writing life?
(a) He moves his massive desk to a corner of his office.
(b) He centers his desk in his office.
(c) He exchanges his massive desk for a smaller one.
(d) He rearranges his office to accommodate a larger desk and chair.

3. What is the location of the first item mentioned in the image?
(a) In a chair.
(b) On a table.
(c) On the floor.
(d) Over a counter.

4. According to King, what is the second condition that, if readers cannot accept, should be a reason to stop reading his book?
(a) That writing is a serious job with inexplicable aspects.
(b) That writing will probably not make a lot of money for the reader.
(c) That the writing is drudgery.
(d) That fame and fortune are fleeting.

5. If a reader does not see an image the same way as the writer, how has the image changed?
(a) The image becomes more elaborated.
(b) The creative process changes the image to fit the story.
(c) As the reader reads about it, the details change.
(d) The image doesn't change. It is the same image.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is the character Carrie based on?

2. What is one reason for reading the book, On Writing?

3. To which substance is King first addicted as a young man?

4. How does King's mother die?

5. How does King describe the image discussed in chapter two?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some of the aspects of writing that King is not going to emphasize in the chapter, What Writing Is?

2. In what way is the book, On Writing, to be different from King's usual work?

3. Based on the chapters, C.V., and What Writing Is, what ideas justify King's statement that writing is a serious job?

4. After Tabitha King's intervention in her husband's addictions, King insisted on moving his desk. How was this symbolically important to him?

5. When King asks the writer to accept 'the magic of writing, but to take it seriously', what is he saying?

6. What inferences can you make from King's statement that writing is magic? Explain in your own words.

7. How would you summarize the different jobs King had during his early career? How might these jobs have influenced his work?

8. How did King begin his career as a writer?

9. In what ways is the rabbit on the table of symbol of King's belief in magic and telepathy? Explain in your own words.

10. How did King learn to edit his work? Why was this important to the young writer?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,019 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample