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. Where does Victoria go after leaving her home?

2. What does Crowder say about Beckman?

3. What do Ike and Bobby buy at the store for their mother?

4. What does a panicked cow do?

5. Why does Victoria run out of the classroom?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the school board chairman tell the Beckmans and how do they respond?

2. What happens when Victoria returns to the McPherons' house?

3. How does Victoria feel on the way to the McPherons' house and what happens when she and Maggie arrive there?

4. Why does Ella ask Tom to come to her house and what happens there?

5. Who gathers at the McPherons' for a Memorial Day celebration and what do the brothers tell Guthrie?

6. What happens between Victoria and Maggie's father?

7. What does Crowder decide to do about Russell, what is Russell's father's response and what does Crowder tell Guthrie when they leave?

8. What does the young man ask his girlfriend, Sharlene, to do and what is the end result?

9. What happens with the last cow that needs done and what do the brothers decide to do with her?

10. What happens at the beginning of the book when Tom Guthrie goes in to speak with his wife before leaving for school?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Ike Guthrie and Bobby Guthrie. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Tom Guthrie and Harold McPheron. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in Plainsong help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

Essay Topic 2

Plainsong, like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy (or at least optimistic) note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Plainsong and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Plainsong is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss Plainsong based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Plainsong is a successful novel. Explain your rationale with specific examples.

3. Do you think the fact that Plainsong is primarily for entertainment changes the criteria upon which its success should be judged? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,252 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample