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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. In what category does Stephen submit his first book to Gott?

2. What was Stephen doing when Kate disappeared?

3. What was the stuffed animal toy that Kate held the day she disappeared?

4. What does Stephen think Julie is doing to herself after Kate's disappearance?

5. What is Stephen Lewis' profession?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Stephen take Kate to the market alone?

2. How does Charles convince Stephen to publish the book as a children's one?

3. What is Stephen's memory about bicycles that he wants to remember with his family, and why does it bring about some fear and regret in him?

4. How does Stephen view the sex that he had with Julie in the months afterward?

5. How did Thelma help Stephen during his struggle with Kate's disappearance?

6. How does the young girl in yellow at the station interact with Stephen?

7. When Julie came back from Chilterns, why were she and Stephen only able to stay together briefly?

8. What fear do the police instill in Stephen by mentioning the docks?

9. How did Charles make the move into politics?

10. How is Julie described in Chapter 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Love is a recurring theme in The Child In Time. How does Julie's feelings about love change from the beginning of the novel to its end? In what ways has she expanded her awareness and beliefs? Is sexuality connected to love for Julie? How does her feelings for Stephen develop and change and how does her relationship with him contrast with that of other men that she has had romantic or an idealized relationship with?

Essay Topic 2

Describe Thelma. What is her role in the story? What was McEwan trying to accomplish by creating Thelma's character in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Politics are also referred to in the book. McEwan refers to the politics of the society of The Child In Time during 1987 when Thatcher was in power. How does the politics Ian describes in the book compare to that of his own world? Do you think politics are an important part of the book? How else could McEwan incorporate politics into the book? Also examine the use of politics in relationships.

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