View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What cruel reality does Dencey realize about Sammie's life?

2. What book does Dencey give to Sammie?

3. What time does Tom return home from sea?

4. Where does Dencey's father work?

5. Lydia accuses Dencey of falsely worshiping which objects?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the family's response to Tom's homecoming, and what shock is in store for Tom regarding the size of his family now?

2. Why would Lydia be forbidden to marry Tom?

3. What does Tom do in order to marry Lydia?

4. How soon after his last letter does Tom return home?

5. How does Tom Coffyn meet Lydia Severance?

6. Explain the class system on Nantucket.

7. What does Dencey learn about Sammie's home life when she finds him at Injun Jill's?

8. How does Sammie react to Dencey and her mission of forgiveness?

9. What disheartening news does Lydia receive in a letter from Tom?

10. What role does Elias,Tom's father, take on in the household? What does he do that scares Dencey?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a brief character study of Aunt Lovesta. What did she look like? What were her positive personality traits? What were her dreams and fears? What was most valuable to her in her world?

Essay Topic 2

Create a brief character study of Tom Coffyn.. What did he look like? What were his positive personality traits? What were his dreams and fears? What was most valuable to him in his world?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the significance of the book's title. What does the author mean by calling it simply DOWNRIGHT DENCEY. What is she trying to emphasize with this emphatic style? Suggest three alternate titles for this book with supporting rationale for each one.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 973 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample