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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 is the name of the girl in Aunt Hespa's song, Calico Bush?

2. In part 3, whose cruel comments have caused Marguerite to feel sad and old?

3. What is the response of the sailors when Caleb asks to go with them to Boston?

4. What does Ira Sargent compare to pulling the teeth of a giant?

5. Why does Dolly quickly insist on putting a splint on Joel's injured leg?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who does Abby Welles say a heartfelt goodbye to when the men leave? What does this say about her choice of suitors?

2. Before having a meal during the corn shelling, what do the people of the area pray for?

3. What does Marguerite learn was the only thing the Sargents routinely do to celebrate Christmas?

4. How do the Sargents friends and neighbors react when Marguerite dances a French dance?

5. How is Joel Sargent injured in Part 4? How bad is the injury?

6. What condition is the dog in when he makes his way back to house after the Indian attack the night of the corn shelling?

7. What quilt does Aunt Hespa give to Marguerite to complete? For what purpose?

8. What news do the men bring back from Sargent's Point when they return from checking on the cause of some smoke seen from Sunday Island?

9. Who does Marguerite run into while she is walking in the woods Christmas Eve to sing Christmas carols on her own? What does he tell her? What does she give him?

10. Why does Ira take Marguerite on his first visit to see Abby Welles after the long winter? What does Abby give to Marguerite?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Joel Sargent? Why has he sold everything he owns for a farm on the coast of Maine? What does Joel hope he can do with a farm? Does he? What does Joel find when he arrives at the farm? Why does Joel not allow his neighbors to talk him out of living somewhere else, such as one of the empty islands in the channel? Why does Joel insist on working his own farm that he paid for? What does this say about his character? How does Joel treat his children? How does he treat Marguerite? Why does Joel offer to send Marguerite away at the end of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Why do the Sargents throw a party when they are ready to raise the roof of the house? What is special about this occasion? How many of the party goers are expected to help with the work? Why does Dolly not help Marguerite find something a little more appropriate to wear? Why is Marguerite put in charge of the children, including some of the neighbor's children? What animal does Marguerite see trying to eat the cold butter? What does she do about it? What does this say about her? Why do the neighbors think a child's spilled blood in the doorway of the new home is bad luck? Is it?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following relationships in detail, citing evidence from the novel to support your conclusions:

1) Joel and Dolly

2) Joel and Ira

3) Marguerite and Caleb

4) Marguerite and Dolly

(see the answer keys)

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