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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 does Jessie react to the people in town who try to befriend her?

2. What is the name of the town's newspaper?

3. What is the result of Charlie's failed suicide attempt?

4. What is the name of Jessie and Jack's son?

5. What do Pat and Jessie do on Sundays?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jack do that shows why he came back to Holt, and what do his actions do to Pat?

2. What does Doyle Francis discover when he returns to manage the grain elevator in Jack's absence?

3. After Jack has been gone for awhile, what shocking and public action does Jessie take?

4. What happens to finally make the townspeople leave Jessie alone?

5. What happens to Pat's marriage to Nora after the death of their daughter?

6. Why do the townspeople feel cheated of justice, and who do they turn their wrath toward when they cannot take legal action against Charlie Soames?

7. What does Jack warn Pat about when Pat visits him in jail?

8. How does Jessie interact with the people in town?

9. How do Pat and Jessie become romantically involved?

10. What personal tragedy does Pat suffer in the Summer of 1982?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Does Haruf end the story on a note of hope for the characters, or will they continue to struggle with their relationships and hopes for their lives? Give your perspective and two reasons to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Do a brief character sketch of Pat Arbuckle including positive and negative characteristics. What are his physical characteristics? What are his hopes and dreams? What is important to him at this point in time?

Essay Topic 3

Project into the future ten years after the end of the novel and write a brief synopsis for the lives of Jack, Jessie, their sons , Wanda Jo and Pat Arbuckle. Be sure to include work, socialization, marital status, hobbies, etc.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 995 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample