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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 is Wilburn, the boy at the orphanage, as much of an outcast as Little Tree is?

2. How does the author suggest that even nature is mourning about Little Tree's departure?

3. In what two ways does the author introduce humor in the incident with the two men from Chattanooga?

4. What change does Little Tree make that demonstrates how much he has learned from the loss of the money spent on the calf?

5. What is the meaning of the red flag planted on the land by the regulators?

Short Essay Questions

1. What examples of prejudice and misunderstanding does Little Tree encounter at the orphanage?

2. Write a short character sketch of Mr. Wine and summarize his role in the story.

3. How and why does Granpa's approach to people in church who are badly off differ from the approach of others?

4. During an incident in Chapter 13, poor people on the farm in the clearing are harassed and killed by government authorities. What part does this incident play in the novel?

5. How does Little Tree's love of nature help him through the misery he feels at the orphanage?

6. In what way does the title of Chapter 18 foreshadow the events that occur in it?

7. What are the main purposes served by the incident in which Granpa is bitten by the rattlesnake?

8. What does Chapter 16 suggest about the place of church going in the lives of Little Tree's family?

9. How do Granpa and Little Tree continue to make sure that as much as possible is learned from Little's Tree loss in the calf purchase?

10. How does the description of the incident with Mr. Slick and Mr. Chunk demonstrate the author's ability to use humor?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Forrest Carter makes significant use of symbolism in the novel. Using specific examples of different types of symbols, write a detailed analysis of the author's use of symbolism throughout the novel. Where is it seen? How effectively is it used?

Essay Topic 2

Chapter titles in this novel play a significant role in shaping the expectations of the reader or ironically commenting on the contents of the chapter. Select any four chapters whose titles you consider to be particularly significant and discuss the extent to which these titles shape the reader's expectations or ironically comment on the contents of these chapters.

Essay Topic 3

Through the voice of Granpa, the novel expresses many explicit criticisms of the government, the law and authority figures in general. Write a critical analysis of Granpa's attitude to the government, the law and authority figures in general and comment on whether you consider it appropriate for Granpa to pass on his views to Little Tree.

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