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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. Where does Willard end up renting a house for his family?

2. How is Reverend Sykes characterized?

3. Why does Willard start killing animals?

4. At what does Dunlap hint to Willard one day?

5. What is the year of the opening of the first chapter?

Short Essay Questions

1. How long have the Russells lived in Mitchell Flats and how does that affect the townpeople's attitude towards them and Arvin's time at school?

2. What do the two hunters loudly discuss and what is Willard's reaction?

3. What interrupts Hank Bell's daydreaming?

4. What happens one night when Willard wakes Arvin?

5. How does Carl convince young men to have sex with Sandy and what does Carl do after they have sex?

6. Where is Arvin joining his father?

7. How does Willard exact his revenge on the hunters later, and what does he say to Arvin about the incident?

8. About what does Deputy Sheriff Bodecker fantasize?

9. What happens to the young, attractive soldier that Carl and Sandy pick up?

10. From whom does Willard rent a house and how does the man verbally abuse Willard?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bodecker himself has gone up in the world, at least in terms of public status. The reference to his taking bribes, on the other hand, reveals how low he has sunk in terms of personal moral status. The reference to bribes also foreshadows events later in the narrative in which his hard-won status becomes increasingly endangered by his corrupt activities and attitudes. Meanwhile, it's interesting to note how his, Sandy's and Carl's varied states of corruption are juxtaposed one to the other to the other, parallel situations that lead to parallel justice - death at the hands of the avenging Arvin.

1. Do you think Bodecker was always corrupt? Why or why not? Do you think public office corrupts many individuals? Why or why not? Use examples from your life and the text to support your answer.

2. Discuss what is meant by the following: Bodecker's, Sandy's and Carl's varied states of corruption are juxtaposed one to the other to the other. Use examples from your life and the text to support your answer.

3. Do you think Bodecker deserved to die as much as some of the other corrupt characters? Why or why not? Use examples from your life and the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in "The Devil All the Time".

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of "The Devil All the Time". How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of "The Devil All the Time". How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think The Devil All the Time is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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