East of Eden Study Guide

1. What is the novel's primary setting?

• Death Valley, California
• Mendicino, California
• Napa Valley, California
• Salinas Valley, California

2. Correctly pair the brothers:

• Adam and Cyrus
• Cyrus and John
• Cyrus and Charles
• Charles and Adam

3. The first Trask farm is located in:

• New Jersey
• California
• Illinois
• Connecticut

4. What crime does Cathy commit?

• Murders her parents
• Steals money from a safe
• Murders her first lover
• Steals a locket

5. Cathy is described by Adam as:

• Angelic
• Ugly
• Large
• Red-headed

6. What is Cyrus Trask's physical defect?

• He is blind
• He is missing an arm
• He is deaf
• He has one leg

7. Why does Charles beat Adam?

• Alice prefers Adam
• Cyrus prefers Adam's present
• Adam stole his girlfriend
• Adam is a better shot

8. What sort of work does Mr. Edwards do?

• Runs a theatre
• Runs a prostitition ring
• Runs a casino
• Runs a circus

9. While Adam is recuperating, what does Cyrus do?

• Infects him with the flu
• Breaks his toys
• Buys him a ticket to Europe
• Enlists him in the army

10. What present does Charles give his father?

• A puppy
• A jacket
• A kitten
• A knife