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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. Who is Bethia?

2. What changes Caleb and Bethia's relationship?

3. Who does Bethia believe will care for Solace?

4. What does Bethia wonder about what the sonquem asks?

5. Why is Mayfield traveling to England?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Bethia's sister Solace?

2. Where is Bethia sent and what are the aftereffects of her drinking out of the gourd?

3. What is Bethia's father's dealings with the Wampanoag, and how does Bethia learn their language?

4. How does Bethia come to believe she needs to watch her father preach?

5. Why does Bethia work so hard on her chores?

6. What does Caleb think of Bethia's name and how does he express his feelings about it?

7. Describe the effect of Bethia's father's preaching on the Wampanoag.

8. When and how does Bethia's father introduce Caleb to the White settlement?

9. What does Bethia say about the influence of Cambridge on Caleb?

10. How does the first attempt at the conversion of the sonquem go and what changes that?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Caleb's actions in Chapter 7 can clearly be seen as an important component of his overall journey and intention - to be as fully native a man as he can within the context of being as fully Christian a man as he can. The former is his identity, the latter is the filter through which that identity can function to the benefit of his people. In other words, Caleb's choices and his reactions to those choices are clear manifestations of the work's thematic interest in the struggles faced by individuals to define individual identity; in particular, finding the balance between what internal drives dictate and what external circumstances demand.

1. Discuss, in depth, the conflict between Caleb's native culture and the Christian religion. Use examples from your life and Caleb's Crossing to support your answer.

2. How do you think Caleb's choices and his reactions portrays the them of identity? Use examples from your life and Caleb's Crossing to support your answer.

3. Do you think the balance between internal drives and external circumstances is universal to the human race? Why or why not? Use examples from your life and Caleb's Crossing to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Characters are an important part of what makes Caleb's Crossing interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Caleb. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Bethia. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Pastor Mayfield. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in Caleb's Crossing.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of Caleb's Crossing. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Caleb's Crossing. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

(see the answer keys)

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