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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. Why does Bruce walk all the way home on this night?

2. What instrument did the girl in #11 play?

3. What does Bruce's mother want him to do after he walked home from work?

4. Why is Bruce disappointed in his mother?

5. Where had Bruce's mother made his father get him a summer membership?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Bruce think about as he eats dinner in the hotel?

2. What does Bruce find amusing about the building the funeral home is housed in?

3. How does the author show that Joe had been an important part of Bruce's life?

4. What two items does the funeral director give Bruce before he leaves?

5. What were Bruce's school years like?

6. What prompts Bruce to think of Jack Bailey and what does he recall regarding Jack being a cad with women?

7. What happens when the girl's boyfriend realizes that Bruce has gotten fresh with her?

8. What is the premise of RECAPITULATION?

9. Who are the two friends that Bruce recalls as he reminisces about his childhood?

10. What is the symbolism of the cabbage that Bruce steals?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bruce spends some alone time throughout the novel to contemplate his life. What does he think about? What conclusions does he arrive at? Explain why he is in a contemplative mood at this point in time.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in the story. Which of the characters are lonely? Are they all lonely in some way? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

Essay Topic 3

Create a brief character study of Mrs. Mason. What does she look like? What are her positive personality traits? What are some of her negative characteristics? What are her hopes and fears? What motivates her during her lifetime?

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This section contains 985 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample