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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. Who does Pru ask Nelson if he had sex with?

2. What does Harry say are as ugly as hell?

3. What does Harry say the world runs on?

4. Whose house do Nelson and Pru live at?

5. Who does Harry say belongs to the old circle in his life?

Short Essay Questions

1. What has happened to Janice's Maverick?

2. How does Pru injure herself?

3. What does Charlie tell Harry about the situation with Nelson?

4. What does Harry think about as he runs through Brewer?

5. Why does Harry not talk to the Murketts and the Fosnachts at the wedding reception?

6. What do Pru and Nelson do in Brewer?

7. Why is Harry thankful that Janice does not talk about Cindy?

8. How does Harry react when he sees Charlie back at work?

9. How does Harry's night with Thelma change him?

10. What do Nelson and Pru talk about in Ma Springer's big Chrysler?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Away from the main character examine the way the author uses the other characters in the book. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

Essay Topic 2

Identify the main themes of the story. In what way are these themes relevant to the time period? How does the author use character and setting to express these themes?

Essay Topic 3

Write a 500-word essay revolving around one of the following statements:

1) John Updike celebrates American middle class life and presents Harry as having no conflict with being part of the middle classes, despite his working class background.

2) Even in middle-age Harry is emotionally immature and refuses to understand his son.

3) Nelson's relationship with Harry is too cliché to have any emotional impact on the reader.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 690 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample