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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. How did Laurie Garvey define her family's religious beliefs to her children when they were young?

2. Who is the Mapleton plumber that encounters and harasses Kevin at the parade in Part One?

3. What is the age of Arthur Donovan listed as on his file that Laurie examines in Part Two?

4. Who is described as "Mapleton High's wandering troubadour" as he strums his acoustic guitar in the halls in Part One?

5. What kind of car does Scott Frost drive in the narrative?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Tom Garvey come to be the chaperone and caretaker for Christine?

2. What is Kevin Garvey’s role in Mapleton? Why does he attend the parade in Part One?

3. What does Reverend Matt Jamison represent symbolically in the narrative?

4. How was Melissa Hulbert affected by the Sudden Departure? Whom did she lose?

5. Where are Laurie’s and Meg’s lodgings in Part Two? How is this setting described?

6. What main character is introduced in the Prologue? What information is related about this character in this brief section of the novel?

7. What are Nora Durst’s objectives in attending the social mixer in Part Two? Does she achieve these objectives?

8. What is Kevin’s relationship to The Carpe Diem? How often does Kevin frequent this establishment?

9. How would you describe Jill’s relationship with her father in Part One?

10. How has Jill Garvey been affected by the Sudden Departure in Part One?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the character of Wayne Gilchrest in the novel. Whom did Wayne lose in the Sudden Departure? What led Wayne to develop the Healing Hug Movement? What charges are brought against Holy Wayne? How does he respond to the charges?

Essay Topic 2

Why does Nora Durst abandon Kevin at the restaurant on Valentine’s Day? What have Kevin and Nora discussed just prior to her leaving? Why did this conversation give Nora grief?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the plot structure of The Leftovers. What is meant when the narrative is described as “episodic”? How would you describe the linear and nonlinear qualities of the narrative? Where does the climax of the story occur?

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This section contains 865 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample