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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. By tradition, what generally happens to a beached whale?

2. Who is Noah Merry?

3. Where is Master Corlett's school?

4. Who is Caleb?

5. What does Bethia impulsively suggest?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Bethia feel about Solace?

2. How does Caleb explain his early morning greeting to the sun god?

3. What is Bethia listening to as she lies in her bed?

4. What frustrates Bethia about her life and choices available to her?

5. What does Caleb place in Solace's casket?

6. How does the first attempt at the conversion of the sonquem go and what changes that?

7. What does Bethia say is the reason for the tension between her father and Makepeace, and why is it strange that they are upset with each other?

8. Why does Bethia work so hard on her chores?

9. What happens when Bethia returns to where the Wampanoag are dancing?

10. Where is Bethia sent and what are the aftereffects of her drinking out of the gourd?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Caleb's Crossing is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss Caleb's Crossing based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Caleb's Crossing is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider Caleb's Crossing a successful novel? What about young teens?

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in Caleb's Crossing. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Brooks chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Brooks chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Brooks's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, cliff hangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Brooks use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

(see the answer keys)

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