View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which of the following cities had Randolph not tried to mail a letter to a man named Pepe Alvarez?

2. Who does Joel encounter preening on the front porch after running into Zoo in Chapter 5?

3. What is Joel's middle name?

4. What can Joel not find in his room when he finally awakes on his first day at his father's house?

5. What is the occupation of the local who offers Joel a nickel if he will stop a girl from throwing rocks at his shop?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Joel believe led to his mother's death?

2. What happens when a red ball rolls into the parlor in Chapter 4?

3. What does Joel see a woman doing in his room when he awakes at the beginning of Chapter 2?

4. What does Joel ask God for at the end of the prayer service?

5. How are Joel and Idabel's bathing in the river described?

6. How is Joel's first vision of his father described?

7. What does Sydney Katz ask of Sam Radclif at the beginning of the book?

8. What does Joel do during his breaks from being painted in Chapter 8?

9. How do Randolph and Amy react to Joel's questions regarding a strange woman he saw in Chapter 4?

10. How does Joel react after his haircut from Zoo is finished?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the nature of Skully's Landing in the book. In what way does the author portray Skully's Landing to be a bizarre and desolate place and based on this portrayal, what might he be saying about the nature of those living there?

Essay Topic 2

The notion of religion appears to play a vital role in Joel's life at the Landing.

Part 1.) What role does religious traditions seem to play in the lives of characters like Zoo and Jesus Fever based on their services performed on Sundays?

Part 2.) What is telling of Joel's nature based on his reactions to religious traditions at the Landing?

Part 3.) What might the author be saying about religion based on his portrayal of the religious acts seen at the Landing?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the symbolism of birds in the book. In what way might the bird trapped in Joel's room represent his own plight at the Landing and his inability to find love and comfort?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 723 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample