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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 does Inman do to his companion's horse upon meeting up with another group of men?

2. Where do Ada and Ruby go for the night as snow begins to threaten?

3. What happens to the men who steal from Sara's home?

4. Why does Sara agree to launder and mend Inman's clothes?

5. What reason does Stobrod give for wanting to live at Black Cove?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Inman do in exchange for a hot meal from a grief stricken mother?

2. How does Ada react when she first sees Inman? Does Ada react as Inman imagined she would?

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

4. What decision does Inman make the following morning about his future?

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

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

7. Who helps Inman with his injuries?

8. Who visits Black Cove while Ruby is in town trading apple cider for beef?

9. What does Inman find when he finally reaches Black Cove?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the Trail of Tears. What was the Trail of Tears? How does the Trail of Tears compare to the actions of the Home Guard? How did the Trail of Tears affect the Indians? How did it affect Inman and other character's sympathetic to the Indians? Why does the author mention the Trail of Tears repeatedly in this novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the Greek translation. Why does Inman take this translation after the translator dies? What do these translations mean to Inman? What does Inman plan to do with them after he finds Ada? Does Inman ever get the chance to work on these translations? What is the coverless book Inman carries with him through his travels? Why does Inman read this book? What does this book teach him?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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