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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. Who is Marcus?

2. How much do soldiers in the Union Army earn?

3. On the long march to battle, Charley becomes what?

4. What does Charley do in the middle of the battle?

5. What happens to Charley's drum in the fighting?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Charley spooked when Silas takes him to practice near shallow Confederate graves?

2. What is Charley's nickname for the New York City policeman who makes him stop fighting?

3. What does Jem Miller warn Charley not to include in his letter to Noreen?

4. In Chapter 6, which soldier shouts at Charley angrily while the soldier is being punished?

5. Does Charley get to be a soldier when he gets to Johnny's old regiment?

6. How old is Charley really?

7. What does Jem tell Con to do on the ship?

8. In Chapter 6, what new clothes is Charley wearing and how does he feel about them?

9. Does Charley learn the drum signals slowly or quickly?

10. How does Con spend his time and money on board the boat?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Charley's attitudes about killing change over the course of the book.

Part 1) What is Charley's attitude about killing Confederate soldiers at the beginning of the novel?

Part 2) How does that attitude change when he actually shoots a Confederate soldier?

Part 3) What is Charley's attitude toward killing at the end of the story? Does he believe the Confederate soldier he shot is alive or dead? How does he feel about that?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the character of Michael Demarest.

Part 1) What does he threaten to do to Charley if the boy doesn't stop fighting?

Part 2) What are Michael's motives?

Part 3) Ultimately, is Michael a good person or a bad person?

Essay Topic 3

Granny is a complex character.

Part 1) What has Granny done in the past that shows her compassion for slaves?

Part 2) What does she do now that shows her acceptance of her southern neighbors?

Part 3) Given those two contrasting actions, is it surprising that Granny would protect Charley?

(see the answer keys)

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