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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 does Elijah dislike the fact that Mr. Travis teaches both school and Sunday school?

2. What does Mr. Leroy say his son's name is in chapter 7?

3. What excuse does Elijah's mother make for the bad jokes Mr. Segee makes?

4. What weapon does Madame Sabbar use in her act in chapter 8?

5. What does Mr. Travis hit the top of his desk with in chapter 6?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the basis of Madame Sabbar's act?

2. For what reason are the children sent home early from school at the beginning of chapter 4?

3. Who teaches Elijah to shoot a gun? For what reason?

4. Who does Elijah trade for a cherry pie? What does he trade?

5. What does Elijah use as bait to catch his fish?

6. Who is Samuel? How does Samuel perform for Elijah and the preacher?

7. What is important about the settlement of Buxton?

8. Why was MaWee replaced by a local white child in Madame Sabbar's act?

9. Who convinces Elijah to sneak out and go to the carnival? For what reasons?

10. Why does MaWee think that Elijah will replace him in the carnival?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is Buxton? Where is it? What is the nature of the community? How was it started? Why did the writer chose to set his novel in this community? What is the history of this area? How does the author use it to develop his plot? How does the author use history to develop his characters?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the preacher to the white slave holder who informs Mrs. Holton of her husband's death. In this comparison list the cruelties each has committed and how they compare to one another, how they impact the people of Buxton and others, and the ways in which they are different. Discuss as well reasons why the author might have felt the need to offers these two representations of such cruelties.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the history of the novel in an essay. Research the time period and discuss why the settlement was formed in Canada, the dangers the fugitives had in reaching the settlement, and some of the realities of slavery the citizens of Buxton were able to escape once they reached Buxton. Use quotes from the novel to support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 748 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample