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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. Tom's story is set against the backdrop of which war?

2. What transformation occurs in Henry when he is on his shrimping boat?

3. Why is Dr. Lowenstein's son alienated from his father?

4. How many different types of Wingos are there according to Tom?

5. What does Ruby Blankenship offer the children?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is one of the benefits of Tom's extraordinary childhood?

2. What does the story of Lila's quest to win the Colleton League cookbook contest reveal about her character?

3. How does Dr. Lowenstein perceive Lila in Chapter Six?

4. Why does Henry covert to Catholicism?

5. What does the robbery that Luke witnesses in New York show us about the city?

6. How has coaching Bernard helped Tom?

7. How does the fury of the storm echo the plight of Lila Wingo?

8. Why doesn't Lila want the children to tell their father about the man called "Callanwolde"?

9. How does Lila react to Henry's buying a tiger?

10. What kind of family does the Prologue portray?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tom spends much of his narrative delving into the lives and experiences of his parents and even grandparents. In fact, Dr. Lowenstein is occasionally frustrated by Tom's refusal to speak exclusively about her patient, Savannah, but Tom persists that in speaking about these seemingly tangential anecdotes, he is in fact providing insight into Savannah's character. Consequently, each of the Wingo children are an amalgamation of various influences and traits of their parents and grandparents.

Choose ONE of the following Wingo children and examine their character in terms of the influences he or she exemplifies from the Wingo parents and/or grandparents (Henry, Lila, Tolitha, Amos). You may write about one of these character's exclusive influence on one of the Wingo children or you may discuss how several or even all of these characters influenced the lives and actions of one of the Wingo children.

A.) Tom.

B.) Savannah.

C.) Luke.

Essay Topic 2

One of the prevailing ideas of the novel is the concept of dualism; of two sides to the same subject or character. Conroy often develops this duality by placing pairs of characters in stark comparison or contrast to each other to illuminate a concept about either persona or both of them.

Choose ONE of the following pairs of characters and write a compare and contrast essay about them. Be sure to use specific and relevant details from the text. Remember also to analyze the significance, consequence, or reason for the author's juxtaposition of these two figures.

A.) Tom and Savannah.

B.) Grandpa Wingo and Tolitha.

C.) Henry and Lila.

D.) Bernard and Savannah.

E.) Susan and Tom.

F.) Herbert and Lila.

G.) Amos and Luke.

H.) Luke and Henry.

Essay Topic 3

Geographical settings carry a special significance in the novel. In fact, the narrative frequently alternates between the South and New York City. Compare and contrast these two settings. What significance do each of them hold in the story? Why does Conroy choose to alternate between the two?

(see the answer keys)

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