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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 Captain Littlepage say about the townspeople?

2. What do William and Mrs. Blackett do after supper?

3. What offer does William make the narrator?

4. What made the narrator choose Dunnet Landing for her visit?

5. Why didn't Mrs. Todd marry her first love?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the evening when Mrs. Todd and Mrs. Fosdick visit the narrator and tell the story of Poor Joanna.

2. Using all of the information given in the story, describe how the townspeople feel about Joanna.

3. What does Elijah say about Mrs. Todd at the end of Chapter 20?

4. Choose one character and describe his or her significance to the story.

5. Describe Mrs. Todd's personal characteristics.

6. Describe the contrast of changing moods that occurs on the journey to the Bowden family reunion.

7. Describe Elijah's home.

8. Describe Dunnet Landing.

9. Explain what Gaffett does while shipwrecked off the coast of Greenland. Focus on his activities.

10. Describe Elijah's feelings for his late wife.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Strength and vulnerability are two major themes of the novel. How is each characteristic illustrated within the novel, and how do they relate to each other?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the importance of company and companionship as demonstrated throughout the novel. Illustrate your point with concrete examples.

Essay Topic 3

At the beginning of Chapter 12, the narrator introduces Mrs. Fosdick with the following words: "Except for a few stray guests, islanders or from the inland country, to whom Mrs. Todd offered the hospitalities of a single meal, we were quite by ourselves all summer; and when there were signs of invasion, ... I suffered much from apprehension. ... but after all, ... it was impossible not to sympathize with Mrs. Todd, who, ... was really delighted with the prospect of entertaining an old friend." Describe the novels themes of solitude and isolation vs. the importance of community by expanding on what the narrator means by this quote.

(see the answer keys)

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