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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 items has Seth Jordan given the Sargents to plant in their fields?

2. What food remains the staple of the Sargents' diet during the long, harsh winter?

3. What news did Seth Jordan bring the Welles that Hannah demands more details about?

4. In Aunt Hespa's book, who kept Doubting Castle?

5. What would Marguerite have learned to do at the convent if she had remained another year?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Dolly refuse to allow Marguerite to go to Sunday Island to get help? Why does their signal of a white sheet fail to gain notice?

2. Why does Marguerite think that Ira Sargent has grown sullen? What does she do about it?

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

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

5. Marguerite sees smoke at Sargent's Point when she goes to sit before the window after being criticized for her dance. Who does she tell? What do they do?

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

7. What does Marguerite do when the food runs out and the Indians continue to be a threat to Sargent's Point?

8. What do the Sargents do to the sugar maple trees that makes Marguerite fear for their survival?

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

10. What work does Joel take on by himself when Ira and Caleb go away on the Fortunate Star?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Dolly Sargent? Is she a good mother? Why does she refuse affection to her children? Why does Dolly protest the move to Maine? Why does she go anyway? How does Dolly react when she discovers there is no house on their new farm? Why does Dolly not insist on returning to the city? How does Dolly treat Marguerite? How does Marguerite respond to this treatment? Why does Dolly refuse to burn her child's fingers to keep her from touching fire? Why does she later regret it?

Essay Topic 2

Who is Aunt Hespa? How does Marguerite come to meet her? What is their relationship like from the first meeting? What does Aunt Hespa have that Marguerite admires? What does Aunt Hespa show Marguerite on their first meeting? What does Aunt Hespa have to teach Marguerite? How many times does Marguerite visit Aunt Hespa to help with chores and projects? What quilt pattern does Aunt Hespa show Marguerite? What gift does Aunt Hespa make to Marguerite at the end of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

What is a corn shelling party? Why do the Jordans throw one? What do these parties centered around work say about the time period? What type of dance does Marguerite do after the shelling is done? Why do some of the neighbors find it shocking? Why does Aunt Hespa express the opinion that it was a nice dance? What does this dance say about the differences between Marguerite and the people to whom she is bound?

(see the answer keys)

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