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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 surprises everyone when Mayfield's will is read?

2. Whom does Anne marry?

3. What is wrong with Anne?

4. How is the journey to Cambridge?

5. What does Samuel want Bethia to discontinue doing?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Samuel's marriage proposal to Bethia interrupted, and what how does Bethia handle the situation.

2. What happens to Joel on his way to the mainland?

3. What are a couple things Bethia does during her first days at the school?

4. What does Samuel confess to Bethia?

5. Why is Caleb still disturbed about the situation with Anne and what does he do?

6. How has Makepeace arranged to buy Bethia out of her indenture?

7. Describe a little about Anne's life.

8. What does Bethia say to Corlett about applying for a position at another school and what is his response?

9. What does Bethia say about her marriage to Samuel and their trip to Italy?

10. What is the time frame when Chapter 1 of this section opens and why is Bethia writing again?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1. What is foreshadow? How many incidences of foreshadow are in Caleb's Crossing? How does foreshadow contribute to a book's suspense?

2. Discuss an example of foreshadow in Caleb's Crossing including why you believe it is foreshadow. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. How do you think most people react to uncertainty in their lives? Use examples from Caleb's Crossing and your own live to support your opinion.

Essay Topic 2

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).

Essay Topic 3

Caleb's Crossing belongs to the historical novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the historical novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a historical novel and a fantasy?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,092 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample