List and discuss the contrasts between Herbert and Ida. In what ways are their lives and situations different? What is it, do you think, about Herbert's life that makes him who he is? What is it about Ida's life that makes her who she is? Do you agree or disagree with the comments in Chapter 8 that suggest that there are also parallels and commonalities in their two lives and experiences? Why or why not?

In what ways do Ida's actions throughout the narrative enact and/or manifest the work's primary themes? Consider, in particular, her actions in Chapter 11.

Keeping in mind the criteria for or the description of a work's climax in the Analysis for Chapters 16 and 17, determine which of the two key points in this section (the school board meeting, the writing of the exams) is the work's climax. Explain your answer.

In...