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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. What does Finny decide to throw?

2. Where do the students go to smoke?

3. Gene notes that Finny is no uncomfortable with Gene __________ him.

4. Brinker says that Gene might have a _______ in not clearing up the details of Finny's accident.

5. Who is ridiculed for wanting to finish school before enlisting?

Short Essay Questions

1. What eventually happens when the boys realize what Finny is doing in #49?

2. Why does Finny suddenly begin to believe that the war is real?

3. What does Finny say about the war?

4. Why do the boys ridicule Quackenbush?

5. When Gene and Leper get into an argument, what does Leper accuse Gene of?

6. What does Finny do during the snowball fight with Gene and the others?

7. What does Gene offer as an explanation for his disheveled appearance when Finny returns?

8. What does Brinker say to Gene about his new living situation?

9. What was the result of Finny's accident this time?

10. Why does Leper decide to enlist in the war?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

While Gene continues to feel upset about Finny's accident, it seems that even though he is 'cleared' of his charges and Finny never seems to blame him, the 'sin' follows him.

Part 1: Do you feel that Gene sinned? Was his bouncing of the branch done out of hatred? Support your answer.

Part 2: Does Gene ever find a sense of redemption? Why or why not?

Part 3: What does Finny's fall represent in this novel? What does it have to say about growing up?

Essay Topic 2

The scene when Finny and Gene are on the beach playing hooky is a touching one, though it seems while it is very important to both boys, the reactions are different from what the reader expects.

Part 1: Describe what happens between Gene and Finny when they are on the beach.

Part 2: Why can't Gene respond to Finny's statement?

Part 3: What does this scene seem to reveal to Gene (and to the reader) about Finny?

Essay Topic 3

The tree by the river is the site of many victories and one foreboding accident. Juxtaposing nature with tragedy seems to cause the reader to react more strongly than they might have had the accident occurred in another setting.

Part 1: What might the symbolism of the tree mean in the story? What might the tree represent to the characters and to the plot?

Part 2: Describe the victories that occur at the place of the tree.

Part 3: How does the tree affect each of the main characters in this novel?

(see the answer keys)

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