View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. When Wally sees Candy with the younger boy in her lap, he begs her to do what in Chapter 5?

2. The nurses keep mentioning in the novel that the doctor is named after what?

3. Melony picks up what while she and Homer are hanging out in one of the abandoned buildings by the river in Chapter 3?

4. What do Melony and Homer see flying in the air by the river in Chapter 3?

5. Unknown to Dr. Larch, Melony, and Homer, who lay dead in the woods in Chapter 5?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what ways do the characters of Olive Worthington and Dr. Larch relate in Chapter 4?

2. In what ways is St. Cloud's symbolic? How does the author establish this in Chapter 1?

3. What is the setting of the novel established in Chapter 1? During what time period does the novel begin?

4. What is symbolic about Homer's naming of the baby in Chapter 4?

5. Discuss the symbolism and foreshadowing in Chapter 4. What is foreshadowed by Candy's pregnancy?

6. How is the atmosphere described in the beginning of Chapter 5? What is symbolic in this description?

7. What causes Homer's first two adoptive families to return him to the orphanage in Chapter 1?

8. Where does Dr. Larch decide to go when leaving Boston in Chapter 2? Who invites him to a party and why, in this chapter?

9. In what ways does the character of Dr. Larch symbolize God? How is this illustrated in Chapter 3?

10. Where does Wally invite Homer to go with him in Chapter 5?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define and discuss tone, metaphor and simile, and analyze the imagery and symbolism in Chapter 5. What is foreshadowed by the wind? How does the imagery of the beginning of the chapter lend to its tone? How is the stationmaster described? What kills him in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss Melony's decision to run away from the orphanage and her theft from Mrs. Grogan. How does Melony feel about this action of deceit? What are the reactions of Dr. Larch and Mrs. Grogan after Melony's disappearance? How does Mrs. Grogan react to her money being stolen?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the symbolism of the cider house rules. Why does the author use this as the title of the novel? What is significant about these rules? What is Homer's reaction to the rules? Also discuss racial relations during the time period in the novel. Where do the apple pickers live during the off season? In what ways are they segregated from the white population?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,021 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample