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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. Who is Wayne Gilchrest's sixth bride?

2. Who is Jill's high school chemistry teacher?

3. Which of Holy Wayne's brides is Christine?

4. How many local residents in Mapleton disappeared on the Sudden Departure day?

5. What is the name of Nora Durst's husband who disappeared on the day of the Sudden Departure?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did the Sudden Departure impact Tom Garvey? Where was Tom when the event occurred?

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

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

4. What are the subjects of Reverend Matt Jamison’s newsletters in the novel? What are the objectives of the newsletters?

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

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

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

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

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

10. What irony is revealed through the conversation between Nora and Kylie in Part Two?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of abandonment in The Leftovers. Who in the story has been abandoned, either wittingly or unwittingly following the Sudden Departure? How do each of these characters come to cope with abandonment? What symbolism supports this theme?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the motif of cults and exploitation in The Leftovers. What are the different cults that are highlighted in the narrative? What are the beliefs of each of these groups? How do these cults exploit their members?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Nora Durst and her losses in the Sudden Departure. Who in Nora’s family was lost? How does Nora cope with her grief? What obstacles does Nora face in the course of the narrative?

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