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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 Morning Star dangle over her baby son at the end of Scene Six of The Courtship of Morning Star?

2. In Play Five, who heads the wrong way, while riding out to Bowling Green when Talbert's army first heads off to battle?

3. What happens to the Indian woman in Scene One of The Courtship of Morning Star?

4. In Play Three, The Homecoming, what does Patrick Rowen do to his father Michael during their argument while Michael bathes?

5. What does Jed do when Talbert asks for his help in getting off the battle field in Play Five?

Short Essay Questions

1. From where does Joshua get the Rowen gold watch in Play Nine, what does he do with it and what do his actions symbolize?

2. Mary Anne Rowen tells Joshua at the end of Play Seven that the union is now his family. In what ways is the coal miners' union like a family to the miners?

3. Describe Jed Rowen's dream at the beginning of Play Five, God's Great Supper.

4. In Play Four, Ties That Bind, why does Patrick Rowen seem to favor his younger son, Zach, over his older son, Zeke?

5. Why are Mary Anne and Tommy willing to take Abe Steinman in as a boarder, even though he is a stranger and involved with the union?

6. Do things improve for the coal miners between the formation of the union in 1920 and Joshua Rowen's speech in Union Hall in 1954 at the beginning of Play Eight?

7. What is the significance of the pock marks on Morning Star's skin in Play Two, The Courtship of Morning Star?

8. Which Talberts does Jed let live when his family attacks the Talbert homestead in Play Five, God's Great Supper?

9. What is Scotty's tragic flaw?

10. Why does Lana want to break off her affair with Joshua?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dreams are a recurring motif throughout The Kentucky Cycle. Cite three examples from the text of the use of this motif and discuss what you think it represents in each example.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the characters of Morning Star, Sallie Biggs, and Mary Anne Rowen in The Kentucky Cycle. Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

The Kentucky Cycle contains a number of instances of irony. Cite three examples of irony in the plays and discuss what you think the author intends to convey with each example.

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