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. What creates a permanent rift between Benjamin and Hildegarde?

2. At the end of Chapter VIII, what is the only problem that Benjamin has, according to the narrator?

3. How does the general try to convince Hildegarde that she should not marry Benjamin?

4. Much of Benjamin’s life had improved over the years, except what?

5. How does Benjamin feel about returning home after the war?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Benjamin think about the Spanish-American War?

2. What had Benjamin hoped would happen regarding his reverse agin?

3. How have Benjamin’s feelings about aging changed since his return from the war?

4. What does Roger do to try to prove that his son is actually a young man?

5. What does Hildegard think about the odd way in which Benjamin ages?

6. How does Benjamin respond to seeing Hildegarde after three years away at war? Why?

7. How are Hildegarde’s friends wrong about their marriage?

8. How does General Moncrief try to convince Hildegarde that she is making a mistake marrying Benjamin?

9. How has Hildegarde changed over the years by Chapter 8?

10. What attracts Hildegarde to Benjamin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are varying reactions to Benjamin‘s rare condition. What are these reactions? How do they affect Benjamin? How do they make Benjamin‘s life more difficult but also make him stronger? What can the reader learn from this?

Essay Topic 2

It takes time but Mr. Button finally comes to term with Benjamin‘s condition. Does this change his relationship with Benjamin? Why or why not? Do the majority of the characters that Benjamin comes across get used to how he is? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

When someone in the mob shouts that Benjamin should go to Harvard, he sees both the insult and the inspiration. What does this reveal about Benjamin? How does this influence decisions that Benjamin makes later in the story? How might the reader apply this to his or her own life?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 878 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample