Plainsong Test | Mid-Book Test - Hard

Kent Haruf
This set of Lesson Plans consists of approximately 160 pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials.

Plainsong Test | Mid-Book Test - Hard

Kent Haruf
This set of Lesson Plans consists of approximately 160 pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials.
Buy the Plainsong Lesson Plans
Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________

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

Short Answer Questions

1. With whom does Maggie Jones live?

2. Why do Ike and Bobby go to the train station?

3. What does Russell Beckman do to Guthrie?

4. What does Victoria find when she gets home after work?

5. Who does Tom Guthrie bring with him to the McPheron's place?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who does Guthrie see at the bar, what does she say and what does he do?

2. What does Maggie tell Harold at the store and what do he and his brother decide they need to do?

3. Why does Victoria visit Maggie in her classroom?

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

5. What happens at the barbershop when Ike and Bobby go there to collect their newspaper money?

6. How does Guthrie end up at Judy's house?

7. What do the McPheron brothers do when Victoria doesn't come home and how do they feel about it?

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

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

10. What does Victoria tell Maggie about the baby's father?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of change. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with change? Why? What are some symbols of change? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of mental/emotional illness. Which characters struggle with some sort of emotional illness? Why? Which characters seem really healthy emotionally/mentally? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death. How did the death of Ike and Bobby's horse affect them? What about Mrs. Stearns? How was their reaction to both deaths similar and different?

4. Discuss why Ella Guthrie moving to Denver was a type of death for the Guthrie family. Use examples from the book to illustrate your discussion.

Essay Topic 2

Plainsong belongs to the Post Modern genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the Post Modern genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a Mainstream novel and a Post Modern novel?

Essay Topic 3

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as Regeneration help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading Plainsong? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in Plainsongto discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,264 words
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