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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. Tom brought Dency sea shells and a _________________.

2. What is Sammie doing when Dencey arrives at the cottage where he lives?

3. Who is the ten-year-old girl taken in by Lydia and Tom?

4. What is Lydia's state of mind prior to Tom's return home from the sea?

5. What did the people of Nantucket rely on to make their living?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the circumstances that make Dencey angry enough to throw a rock at Sammie Jetsam?

2. What is the family's response to Tom's homecoming, and what shock is in store for Tom regarding the size of his family now?

3. What is Dencey's plan to get Sammie to forgive her and what risk does she take if she carries it out?

4. How does Dencey's faith compare to her cousin Hopestill's faith?

5. How does Dencey react to Sammie's vulnerability, and what plan does she need to make for what she wants to do to help Sammie now?

6. What does Tom do in order to marry Lydia?

7. Explain the class system on Nantucket.

8. What objects which Tom brings home does Dencey especially like? Why does her mother chastise her admiration of them?

9. How do visitors to the Coffyn help infuse some liveliness into the family's busy lifestyle?

10. How does Dencey react to Sammie's response to her offers of forgiveness?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the greatest lesson Dencey learns in the book? Is it true that important lessons are also painful ones? What will Dencey always recall about her mother's admonitions? What impact did Aunt Lovesta have on Dencey's life? What would Dencey consider to be her best decision?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the role of women in 19th century New England. What precedents do these women feel compelled to follow? What restrictions do they have? What freedoms did they have that 21st century women do not have? How were their lives significantly more difficult than the lives of 21st century women?

Essay Topic 3

DOWNRIGHT DENCEY is a classic example of historical fiction. What does that classification entail? Why does this book fit into this category?

(see the answer keys)

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