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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 does this person think Packingtown should be in the hands of?

2. What does Jurgis consider as he is in the mansion?

3. Where do the children get food?

4. What is the speaker talking about?

5. What does Jurgis do as Ona is dying?

Short Essay Questions

1. Overcome with grief after Ona's death, what does Jurgis do to soothe his sorrows?

2. Where does Jurgis finally find the job that makes him happy, though he does not hold onto it for long?

3. What is the first crime Jack Duane and Jurgis commit?

4. When Jurgis goes back to Chicago for the summer, where does he find employment?

5. What caused little Antanas' death?

6. What is the stroke of luck that Jurgis happens upon?

7. What happens to Jurgis' $100?

8. Why doesn't Ona come to the courtroom during Jurgis' sentencing?

9. What is the senator talking about as Jurgis overhears a political meeting?

10. When Jurgis gets out of the hospital, what does he do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The idea of not being able to speak English is one that hurts Jurgis and his family in the beginning of their time in the US. Describe three situations in which knowing English would have helped Jurgis and his family. What are some ways that the packing plant owners took advantage of the workers because of the language barrier? Do you think it was fair of the packers to take advantage of the workers? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The prison that Jurgis winds up in seems to have better living conditions than his home. What do you think is Sinclair trying to say about society and its criminals? If someone were to wind up in prison during this time, what motivation would they have for ever leaving, given the conditions they live in? Why do you think Jurgis ends up in jail so often? Do you think he does it on purpose? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The idea of love is one that seems to peek out of the story at times, causing the reader to realize the humanity of the story as well. Why do you think Ona and Jurgis love each other? How do they show their love to each other? In the case of Marija and Tamoszius, why were they included in the story? What purpose do they serve? What is Sinclair saying about love?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 636 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample