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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 kinds of stories are surfacing at the newspaper office, The Chronicle?

2. Why is the decision made to back Willie?

3. Of what has White been accused?

4. Who are Willie and his entourage visiting at a farm?

5. What does Cass do with his own slaves?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens in Chapter 8 to make Adam want to resign as director of the hospital?

2. What is the nature of Anne Stanton's depression?

3. What potential issues surround the contract being awarded to J.H. Moore?

4. What does the new hospital symbolize for Willie?

5. Compare and contrast the funerals for Willie and Adam.

6. Explain the actions in Chapter 9 which create not only the climax of the novel but also the classic theme of good vs. evil.

7. How is Willie's physical presence described by the author?

8. When is Jack able to leave California and return home?

9. What does Jack discover when he digs into the school construction story?

10. To whom is the construction contract awarded and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of good vs. evil in the novel. Who/what represents good? Who/what represents evil? How do they co-exist or do they? What is the final confrontation?

Essay Topic 2

Explain how Willie's role as protagonist evolves as the plot extends. How does Willie change from the hard-working farm boy to a manipulative politician? What are Willie's motivators? Is Willie the typical protagonist hero at heart?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author's use of the literary technique of flashbacks in the novel. What is the purpose of a flashback? Is the information gleaned from the flashbacks sufficient to flesh out the bones of the literary framework the author has established? Is the technique of a flashback and the resulting flash forward disconcerting to the reader, even though necessary?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 856 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample