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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. After John Wilkes Booth crossed the bridge, he turned to look for his co-conspirators. Whom did he see?

2. Worried that Lewis Powell or other assassins might return to the house, what action did Fanny Seward take throughout the night after the attack?

3. What weapon did John Wilkes Booth ultimately use to kill Abraham Lincoln?

4. What does the word secede mean?

5. On what date did Richmond, Virginia, the capital city of the Confederate States of America, fall to Union forces?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what ways is Lewis Powell portrayed as a pathetic character after his attempt to take William Seward's life?

2. What is James L. Swanson's purpose when he describes John Wilkes Booth's passions as including "the romance of lost causes"? (2)

3. What is the significance of the photo that was taken at Abraham Lincoln's inauguration and that includes John Wilkes Booth?

4. How did Mary Todd Lincoln's letter to the Ford Theater's proprietors unwittingly help Abraham Lincoln's would-be assassins complete their goal?

5. What are two themes touched upon within Abraham Lincoln's inauguration day speech of 1865?

6. How was Frederick Seward injured during Lewis Powell's attempt to assassinate Secretary of State William Seward?

7. What action did David Herold take at the scene of William Seward's home that James L. Swanson imagines to have inspired the ire of John Wilkes Booth?

8. Who was the only audience member in Ford's Theater to chase after John Wilkes Booth and why did no one else follow him?

9. Since John Wilkes Booth could have easily gained an audience with President Abraham Lincoln in the Executive Mansion using his famous face, why did he not just assassinate him in such a meeting?

10. What methods does James L. Swanson use to convey the chaotic nature of the scene within Ford's Theater after John Wilkes Booth had escaped?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author's treatment of the climactic scene of the manhunters' discovery of John Wilkes Booth at the Garrett Farm. Why is the author so concerned with the actions of Baker and his men and how does the tone of his writing in this scene reflect his attitude about the actions of Baker and his men? Use concrete details from the text to support your points.

Essay Topic 2

Examine how James Swanson's writing of Chasing Lincoln's Killer displays characteristics of the Realism literary movement and what effect the use of that style has on the narrative. Use concrete details from the book to support your claims.

Essay Topic 3

How is the theme of crafted performance portrayed within the book? Examine James L. Swanson's treatment of actors and their professions, the antagonist's acting career, and the theme of appearance versus reality throughout the novel. Support your points with concrete details from the text.

(see the answer keys)

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