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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 helps Ambrosch and Marek treat the horse with colic?

2. What gift do Jim's grandparents give him when he comes to live with them?

3. What one item must all of the Shimerdas share during the winter?

4. What event occurs that causes Mr. Harling to tell Antonia she cannot attend the dances?

5. Who does Jim's grandmother hire to help her work in the house during July?

Short Essay Questions

1. What change in Jim's life occurs in the first chapter of Book 2? How does it affect him?

2. What is significant about January 22 in this novel?

3. Describe Peter and Pavel

4. Compare and contrast the town and city girls (from Jim's point of view).

5. Describe Jim's first impressions of the Nebraska landscape. Why do you think he responds in this way?

6. What confession does Pavel make to Mr. Shimerda on his death bed?

7. What is a rattlesnake cane? What is its importance for the Burdens?

8. How do the Shimerdas react when the Burdens bring them supplies during the cold winter?

9. Why do Jake and Ambrosch come to blows in Chapter 18?

10. Describe Jim's encounter with the rattlesnake as he and Antonia return from Russian Peter's

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

My Antonia is primarily a first person narrative written from the point of view of Jim. Discuss how this fact influences the story. What biases does Jim bring to the story? How would the novel be different if another character was telling the story? Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

One of the themes My Antonia explores is the relationship between humans and the land. Discuss what the novel has to say about this theme. Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Death plays an important role in this novel. Write an essay:

1) describing the ways death is portrayed in the novel

2) examining the significance of death in the plot and character development

3) arguing what you believe the author is trying to say about mortality through the novel.

Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

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