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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. What is the tone of this book?

2. What does Steinbeck do to Charley to protect him in the deer hunting region of inner Maine?

3. What book does Steinbeck read as he drinks coffee at a rest area?

4. What is the name of Steinbeck's boat?

5. How many years ago did Steinbeck travel the United States?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Steinbeck think about the personality of each journey?

2. What does Steinbeck discover about the French Canadians in northern Maine?

3. What is so depressing about Steinbeck's stop in Bangor?

4. What angers Steinbeck about some neighboring boats anchored close to his just prior to the hurricane?

5. What is Steinbeck's position on hunting?

6. What happens to disrupt the launch of Steinbeck's trip?

7. Why are Steinbeck's friends concerned for his safety on the road?

8. Describe Charley.

9. What have older people always told Steinbeck?

10. Why does Steinbeck decide not to take a human traveling companion?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain why Steinbeck looks forward to a visit to his hometown. What happens during the visit with his family? With an old friend? Why does Steinbeck think he disappointed them? How did they disappoint him? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Explain Steinbeck's interest in writer, Sinclair Lewis. What are Steinbeck's feelings about the people in Lewis' hometown who rejected him for writing the book Main Street, but now elevate his prior citizenship after Lewis is dead? Can you tell Steinbeck's feelings about hypocrisy? Could that be part of the reason Steinbeck does not stop to see Lewis' birthplace even though he is close? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Envision the encounter between Steinbeck and the Shakespearean performer. How do you envision the performer to look? How does he behave? Based on Steinbeck's low-key, unassuming nature, do you think Steinbeck enjoys the theatrics of this man? Or is he annoyed by the overuse of drama? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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