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. Where was Maddy planning to run away to in Section 3?

2. What type of book does Maddy buy for the baby in Section 4?

3. What classes does Arthur offer to attend with Maddy in Section 4?

4. What big news does Maddy tell Arthur in Section 3?

5. What does Maddy have hidden away in her closet in Section 4?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Lucille returns from the hospital in Section 3?

2. How would you describe Lucille and Maddy's relationship in Section 4?

3. What happens when Anderson comes to Arthur's house in Section 4?

4. What is Lucille's house like, in Section 3, when Arthur brings her over a plate of food?

5. What happens to Frank at the start of Section 3?

6. How does Maddy feel when Arthur tells her, in Section 4, that he has asked Lucille to move in with them?

7. What does Arthur say to Lucille to keep her calm in her driveway in Section 3?

8. How do Lucille, Maddy, and Arthur react to the changing weather from summer to fall?

9. What has Maddy been learning about in Section 4, that she shares with Arthur?

10. In Section 3, how do Steve and Arthur express their grief over their wives differently?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the relationship between Lucille and Arthur. Consider what they offer one another and how Berg uses their relationship to develop their character.

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the role that photography and photographs play in the novel. What does photography symbolize in the text?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the way Steve and Arthur grieve for their wives. Which is the healthier way? What is the impact on the other characters in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,165 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample