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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 town was Ned Smythe from?

2. Who is burned in the fiery destruction of The Lilacs?

3. What is the name of the part of town where Cassie lives?

4. What item did Will get from a dying Union soldier?

5. Who was Ned Smythe's mother?

Short Essay Questions

1. To what does Will attribute Cassie's aloof demeanor?

2. What was the purpose of the trip the family made in a new Model T Ford?

3. Who is the only man that Lucy likes in the nursing home?

4. How did Ned Smythe's mother react to news of his death?

5. What is Will's behavior at the site where Ned was killed?

6. How did Will become famous for telling his war stories?

7. What physical and emotional changes occur in Will after visiting the lake where Ned was killed?

8. How old was Willie when he became a soldier and how did the war affect him?

9. What is the premise of OLDEST LIVING CONFEDERATE WIDOW TELLS ALL?

10. Who was Ned Smythe and what was his role in Willie's life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the overall setting for the novel. Why does Gurganus use the setting he does? What is the time period of the story? How important is the time period to the attitudes and issues of the characters?

Essay Topic 2

Create a brief character study of Lucy Marsden. What does she look like? What are her positive personality traits? What are some of her negative characteristics? What are her hopes and fears? What motivates her during her lifetime?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in the story. Which of the characters are lonely? Are they all lonely in some way? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

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This section contains 939 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample