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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. In Act 2, Scene 5, Lincoln mentions a woman "foxing" his pants--what does that mean?

2. Who is with Lincoln at the beginning of Act 2, Scene 6?

3. Why does Lincoln return to New Salem in Act 1, Scene 3?

4. How does Lincoln jokingly describe, in Act 2, Scene 5, the act of defending a murder suspect?

5. In Scene 2, Act 4, what office is Lincoln seeking?

Short Essay Questions

1. What sentiment does Daniel Webster express in the speech that Lincoln reads in Act 1, Scene 1?

2. At the beginning of Act 2, Scene 5, Elizabeth Edwards is responding to a bit of news which surprises her--even though she might have seen it coming. What is the news and who brought it to her attention?

3. As Lincoln contemplates breaking his engagement, Josh Speeds urges him to wait until he, Lincoln, is feeling calmer. Lincoln responds that he is desperate to have the matter settled. What is Josh Speed's larger concern about Lincoln under the circumstances?

4. Ninian Edwards, Lincoln's friend and brother-in-law of Mary Todd, enters with a gift and a wedding day message to Lincoln. What do the gift and the message tell the audience about Mary Todd?

5. What is Josh Speed's opinion of Lincoln's personality and prospects, now that Lincoln is in the State Assembly?

6. Lincoln is reluctant to consider running for State Assembly. What is his main objection?

7. In Act 2, Scene 4, Lincoln continues to resist running for any office with more authority than the Electoral College. Why?

8. According to Act 1, Scene 3, what is the relationship of Lincoln to Nancy and Bowling Green?

9. What is Lincoln's feeling about his career prospects as a young adult studying English in New Salem?

10. Nancy Green and Bowling Green have a disagreement about whether Ann Rutledge is good for Lincoln. What are their respective opinions?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The trouble with politics, Lincoln says, is that "you go into politics and you may get elected...And if you get elected, you've got to go to the city. I don't want none of that."

Mentor Graham--and later, local political leaders--talk about Lincoln's fitness for political office, but there is a paradox in Lincoln's personality. What is it about Lincoln that his friends and teachers think makes him a good candidate (use examples from the play)? What is it about his personality that would seem to contradict their view of him?

Essay Topic 2

Based on his self-descriptions in the scene set in Springfield with Josh Speed and Bowling Green--"I'm no fighting man," he says--is Lincoln a coward who won't fight for what he believes? How does Lincoln explain his own "cowardice?"

Essay Topic 3

In their debate, both Lincoln and Stephen Douglas use elaborate metaphors to describe one another--Douglas says Lincoln is adept at inserting a dagger into his opponent's ribs, while Lincoln parries that Douglas keeps 10 daggers in the air at once. Douglas says Lincoln slyly diverts a listener's attention from the real problems of free workers, while Lincoln says Douglas tells an audience whatever it wants to hear. Which man is the more effective speaker, judging from the debate in this play? Support your opinion with examples of both strengths and weaknesses.

(see the answer keys)

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