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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. Granma accidentally reads about a law introduced by George Washington and this gets Granpa very angry. What law is this?

2. How is the reader made aware that Pa eventually gets very close to the Indians?

3. In Chapter 4, why does Little Tree feel grown-up?

4. Little Tree's bed is made of what material?

5. What does Little Tree mean when he says that Granpa has a "sense of instinct"?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Granpa use the whiskey trade to give Little Tree a sense of belonging in the family, and how do readers know that it works?

2. What detailed explanation of "The Way" does Granpa's give Little Tree when the hawk, Tal-con kills a quail?

3. How does Granma explain the existence of body and spirit to Little Tree in Chapter 8?

4. How is Granpa's approach to his trade different from that of some whiskey traders to whom he objects?

5. How does Little Tree's independent selection of a secret place inform the reader about his character?

6. How does the beginning of Chapter 10 contrast with the ending of the incident in which Little Tree protects the whiskey still from the outsiders?

7. Why is Granpa teaching Little Tree to do the hard work involved in farming so early in his life?

8. What is the significance of the title of the chapter "I kin ye Bonnie Bee"?

9. Explain two important symbols used in Chapter 9.

10. Summarize the episode between Pine Billy and Smokehouse and say why it creates humor.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout this novel, there is a constant preoccupation with the theme of man in relationship to nature. Using specific examples, discuss Forrest Carter's exploration of the theme of "man in relationship to nature" in this novel and explain with justification the extent to which this exploration is meant to be a lesson to the reader.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the novel, the author integrates the use of Standard American English with English that reflects the influence of the Cherokee language and other dialects. In light of this, discuss the advantages and limitations of using different types of language in the novel.

Essay Topic 3

In the introduction to the re-issuing of "The Education of Little Tree", the University of New Mexico Press includes the following statement: 'Little Tree is one of those rare books like Huck Finn that each new generation needs to discover and which needs to be read and reread regularly...a fine and sustaining book, wonderfully funny and deeply poignant'.

With special reference to this statement and using detailed references to the text, write a critical analysis of the novel.

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