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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. What does Mr. Hanson offer Hattie and Leafie?

2. Who does Hattie encounter after talking to Mr. Nefzger?

3. What are Hattie and Perilee working on together?

4. What does Hattie do at the Mueller's while waiting for Leafie?

5. What does Traft say about why he is not serving in the military?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Elmer Junior intervene for his father and what is the result?

2. What has Hattie been doing at night to fight the heat?

3. What happens after Hattie and the others who are threshing see big, black clouds rolling in?

4. What do Rooster Jim and Hattie say about how the war is costing them?

5. Who comes to help Hattie with the threshing and how does Chase contribute?

6. What does Traft have to say as he stops by and waters his horse?

7. How does Hattie acquire chickens and what does she have to do to keep them safe?

8. What happens when Hattie goes to visit Perilee?

9. What do they have to do with the new baby since she is premature?

10. How does Rooster Jim end up on top of a hay bale?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in "Hattie Big Sky".

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

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

Essay Topic 2

"Hattie Big Sky" belongs to the teen historical fiction genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the fictional memoir genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a teen historical fiction and teen fiction?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of "Hattie Big Sky", identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement.) Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in "Hattie Big Sky". (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot.) Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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