A Man Called Ove

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-book review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. What figure of speech is used in describing cats "as big as mopeds"?

A) Personification

B) Metaphor

C) Onomatopoeia

D) Simile

2. What skills does Ove mourn the loss of in too many people?

A) Changing oil and repairing transmissions

B) Hunting and fishing

C) Brewing coffee and writing with pens

D) Installing plumbing and electrical systems

3. What literary device is used in "the cat rolls its eyes"?

A) Personification

B) Hyperbole

C) Irony

D) Metaphor

4. What prize possession does Ove have from his father?

A) Old brown suit

B) Battered prayer book

C) Lucky hat

D) Dented watch

5. After his father's death, who was the most positive role model in Ove's life?

A) His coworker Tom

B) The rail director

C) The ticket clerk

D) His friend Rune

6. Why did Ove stop going to church after his father died?

A) He only went to please his father.

B) He stopped believing in God.

C) He thought God was a swine.

D) He had an argument with the minister.

7. What was the "bloody war" that kept Ove from keeping his suicide plans?

A) The struggle to keep the white shirts from taking Rune

B) The battle for leadership of the Residents’ Association

C) The fight to enforce the driving restrictions in the neighborhood

D) The feud with the Weed over her dog peeing on his lawn

8. Why is Rune's car purchase the final blow to their friendship?

A) Rune bought the kind of car people in white shirts would drive.

B) Rune's car is better than Ove's, and he's jealous.

C) Rune switched brands and was disloyal.

D) Rune bought a large family vehicle, and Ove couldn't have children.

9. What do Ove and Rune build together?

A) A backyard shed

B) A boobytrap for the Mutt

C) A baby crib

D) A model train

10. What is it about Ove that first captures Sonja's interest?

A) His kind eyes

B) His soft voice

C) His confident bearing

D) His sense of humor

11. What did Ove love about Sonja from the start?

A) Her auburn hair

B) Her voice

C) Her kind eyes

D) Her intelligent observations

12. What is true about Ove and the cat?

A) They are codependent.

B) They are both judgmental.

C) They both care about appearances.

D) They both hate people.

13.  Why is the rope breaking ironic?

A) Ove made it with his own hands.

B) Ove is a stickler for quality products.

C) Sonja wanted to replace it because it was old.

D) It's his third try, and he isn't out.

14. What is the function of sarcasm and humor in this work?

A) They illuminate Ove's darkly comedic inner thoughts.

B) They provide counterweight for a very serious subject.

C) They illustrate Swedish cultural beliefs.

D) They propel the plot.

15.  Why does the author initially refer to Sonja in the present and work up to the realization that she's dead so gradually?

A) Suspense keeps readers engaged.

B) Her relevance to the story is limited to the past.

C) The author doesn't want the story to start out too dark.

D) Ove does not accept her death.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. Why does Ove regret giving the mall parking spot to the Toyota?

2. What does Ove believe about life after death?