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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. Why does Inman decide to attack the approaching group of men?

2. What noise attracts Inman to Ada and Ruby's camp?

3. With whom does Inman leave the camp?

4. What map does Inman follow on the next leg of his journey in the chapter, The Doing of It?

5. What does Ada hear that causes her to return to Inman?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Stobrod finally confess he wants from Ruby?

2. Who attacks Sara's home while Inman is there?

3. Why are things awkward between Inman and Ada at first? How does this begin to change?

4. Who comes across Stobrod and Pangle, asking them questions before lining them up in front of a tree and shooting them?

5. What animal does Inman dream about and later feel responsible for killing?

6. What does Stobrod tell Ruby and Ada to attempt to prove that he has changed?

7. How does Inman end up at the home of a war widow?

8. Who tells Ruby and Ada about the shooting of Pangle and Stobrod? How did this witness survive?

9. Who do Ruby, Ada, Stobrod, and Inman run into on their way to Black Cove?

10. Who or what does Ruby catch in her trap in the cornfield?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the Civil War. Why did the author chose to set his novel against the backdrop of the Civil War? How did the war affect the people of the United States during the fighting? How did the fighting affect the soldiers? How is this reflected in the character of Inman? How is it reflected in Ada? In Ruby?

Essay Topic 2

Homecoming is a theme of the novel. Why does Inman want to return home? What is he hoping to come home to? How does Inman see the rest of his life playing out? Why does Inman decide to return home early from the war even though he will be considered a deserter? What does Inman's actions say about his emotional health? What do Inman's actions say about his feelings regarding the war?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss slavery. What is slavery? Was the Civil War about slavery? In what way? How is slavery represented in this novel? What do the main characters think of slavery? Did any of them own slaves? How did slavery affect their lives? How did the war affect their lives? How do the two things compare as far as their impact on the characters?

(see the answer keys)

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