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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 Louisa get Roscoe to do when he stops to ask if she has seen July?

2. Who sings a mournful ballad to the cattle?

3. Who wants to marry Elmira?

4. Who brought Lorena to Lonesome Dove?

5. Who ropes the first horse for the O'Brien brothers?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Sean?

2. What does Lorena ask Dish when he arrives at the Dry Bean? How does it make Dish feel?

3. How does Jake respond when Gus comes into Jake and Lorena's camp?

4. Why is Gus not trying to hide the horses they brought back from Mexico?

5. Why does the bartender at the bar in San Antonio make Gus so mad?

6. Why does Jake call himself a fool?

7. What worries Deets about the trip to Montana?

8. Why does Gus send Newt to watch Lorena, instead of Dish?

9. How does Wilbarger sway Call to make a decision about his restlessness?

10. What does July decide to do first after getting the telegram from Peach?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novel is full of tragedies, such as the deaths of Sean and Deets. Pick three tragedies in the novel and explain how the surviving characters cope. How are the tragedies similar? How are they different? Are they a result of choices or accident?

Essay Topic 2

There are many deaths along the way in the novel. Pick two deaths from the novel (Sean, Deets, Gus, Elmira, Jake, etc.) Compare and contrast the two deaths. What are the circumstances of each death? How are they similar? How are they different? How do the other characters mourn each death?

Essay Topic 3

Different characters approach the issue of responsibility differently. Two characters that especially take opposite approaches to responsibility are Jake Spoon and July Johnson.

Part 1) Compare and contrast July Johnson and Jake Spoon. In what ways are they similar? How are they different?

Part 2) How does July's approach to the law affect the story? How do Jake's choices regarding the law affect the story? Cite examples from the novel for each character's choice and the subsequent effect of those choices.

Part 3) How do Jake and July differ with regards to responsibility? How is July responsible? How is he irresponsible? How is Jake responsible? How is he irresponsible?

(see the answer keys)

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