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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 name did Ginger say Samson wanted to make her be, which caused her great anger?

2. Who led Ginger out of the burning stable in Chapter 16?

3. How many horses died in the fire at the hotel stable?

4. Who did Joe tell first about the stuck cart he saw in Chapter 20?

5. In Chapter 7, who did Ginger buck off of her?

Short Essay Questions

1. What purpose might the old hostler serve in the novel?

2. How did John show a fatherly side to James?

3. How does the theme of trust appear in Chapter 16?

4. What was the point of the speech Mr. Gordon gave Captain Langley? What were his main arguments?

5. Why did the term “only ignorance” upset John?

6. How did Merrylegs see boys and girls differently, and why might that be?

7. How does Black Beauty describe what ‘breaking in’ is for readers?

8. How did the Lady of Earlshall contrast Mrs. Gordon in Chapter 22?

9. How was Ginger taught not to trust men?

10. How did Mr. Gordon interpret Black Beauty’s action in refusing to go forward onto the broken bridge in the storm?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Gender roles have change throughout history, but they are always there. What are the gender roles in Black Beauty’s time? Do any characters defy their gender role? If so, who and how?

Essay Topic 2

Black Beauty is a story told from a horse’s perspective. What are the challenges for an author of having the story told from having a horse’s perspective? What are the challenges for a reader?

Essay Topic 3

Symbolism is literature means to inject a symbolic meaning into something else. What examples of symbolism are there in Black Beauty?

(see the answer keys)

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