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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. How old is Richard?

2. Richard's wife feels that Dickie may help Richard _______________________.

3. What is Richard's profession?

4. Who has the power to bring Richard's memories out?

5. Richard states that people come into his life at strange times to _______________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the metaphor of being captain of your own ship as Richard explains it to Dickie.

2. Describe what Richard sees when Leslie encourages him to remember when he was nine, right after his brother's death.

3. What does Dickie manage to teach to Richard even though Richard is providing instruction during the flight?

4. What is Richard's pattern for dealing with life's challenges, and how can Dickie possibly help him in this area?

5. What is Richard's memory of the water tower?

6. What is the purpose of different people coming into Richard's life?

7. What does Richard have to promise Dickie in order for Dickie to turn over another memory?

8. Describe Dickie's sense of accomplishment in the water tower incident.

9. What does Richard tell Dickie are the two things necessary to get through life?

10. Describe the time that a woman came to Richard and started discussing his thoughts.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Spirituality takes on an almost human persona in this book. What was the source of the religious beliefs? How pervasive were the religious beliefs? Why is Richard considered to be more spiritual than religious? What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

Essay Topic 2

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of disappointment. Identify at least two characters who either embody or experience disappointment, then cite an example to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

What is the overall setting setting for the book? Be sure to include geography, time period and any pertinent popular culture events. What impact did the setting have on Richard's life overall?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,238 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample