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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. When the riots are raging all over Gotham, Batman and Robin set out to what location to get help?

2. After a bomb goes off forcing people to scatter for safety, which character flees into the House of Mirrors?

3. Why does Clark Kent suddenly break off his conversation with Bruce?

4. With Commissioner Gordon as witness, what does the deputy mayor tell the Mutants' leader?

5. What did the Joker want to accomplish with his latest action against Batman?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Batman escape from the Gotham City police?

2. How do the citizens' reactions to the electromagnetic pulse show that Batman's work is far from over?

3. Why does Clark Kent believe Bruce will ruin everything?

4. How does Batman utilize his brain instead of his brawn when fighting the Mutants' leader a second time?

5. What are the results of the electromagnetic pulse on Gotham City and Batman?

6. What is the "spirit" Commissioner Gordon refers to when he says, "The spirit spreads as fast as a fire."?

7. How does The Joker attempt to have one last laugh at Batman's expense?

8. Why does the author include the stories of Arnold Crimp and Iron Man Vasquez?

9. Batman shouts at an image and tells it to "stop laughing." What is the significance of Batman seeing the Joker laughing at him long after the Joker has died?

10. What does Clark Kent/Superman mean when he says, "...like a murderer, you'd cover it up again"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain why and how Batman succeeds in reaching his goal of killing off true identity, Bruce Wayne, and fully embracing his Batman persona by novel's end. Find descriptions from the text to support your answer and provide evidence for your opinion.

Essay Topic 2

How does Bruce Wayne's pushing the race car to its limits until it is engulfed in flames become symbolic of the protagonist's wish to kill Bruce Wayne? Find descriptions from the text to support your answer and provide evidence for your opinion.

Essay Topic 3

The theme of heroism and what it means to be a hero is another theme that is prevalent throughout "The Dark Knight Returns." Choose one (Batman, Superman, The Joker, Two Face, the Mutants and discuss how that/those character(s) define and/or react to heroism. Find descriptions from the text to support your answer and provide evidence for your opinion.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,012 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample