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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. On what day does chapter 3 take place?

2. What name does the preacher give to Elijah in chapter 10?

3. What does Mr. Leroy say Elijah is doing by using a derogatory term to address himself and his classmates?

4. For whom does Mr. Leroy work?

5. Who does Cooter point out in chapter 6 have not been checking up on Mr. Travis?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Elijah begin to use a derogatory word in chapter 7? How does Mr. Leroy react?

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

3. What is Elijah afraid of? For what reason?

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

5. What tragedy does Elijah describe from Mrs. Brown's recent past?

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

7. Who is Frederick Douglass?

8. What does Elijah imagine as he catches horseflies in the stable?

9. Who suddenly appears in Buxton with a fancy new gun in chapter 4?

10. What do Cooter and Elijah think Mr. Travis means by familiarity breeds contempt in chapter 6?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are slavers, or slave chasers? Why do two of these people come toward Buxton? What happens to them? What does the community think happened to them? How do they feel about this? What danger do slavers pose for the people of Buxton? Is it possible for the people of Buxton to be forced back into slavery? Explain.

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.

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