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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. Who is the brother of Lisabeth?

2. How is the landscape of the Two country often described?

3. Who is the fiddle player at the square dance?

4. Who is Isodor?

5. During dinner with Pete, while Mac is away, Lisabeth avoids discussing what subject?

Short Essay Questions

1. During the square dance after the rodeo, how does Jick imagine his parents?

2. When Jick rides alone to check on Walter Kyle's ranch early in Part 1, what thoughts does he have about women in general?

3. While Mac calls a square dance on the Fourth of July, who does Jick ask to dance and how does she respond?

4. How is a counting vee used to count sheep?

5. After the rodeo, why is Jick unable to finish his conversation with Stanley?

6. When Earl and Alec come to blows outside the square dancing venue, how does the fight end?

7. What are the two main causes of Dode's rodeo injuries?

8. What fate befell many of the ranch families who used to live along English Creek prior to the start of the novel?

9. What two special privileges does Jick's father grant him on the morning of the Fourth of July?

10. Briefly describe Jick's mishap with Bubbles, the pack horse, on the way to Andy Gustafson's camp.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Williamsons and the Double W Ranch are seen, throughout "English Creek," as symbolic of the evil of greed and excess wealth. Cite several examples in the novel when greed is illustrated by actions of the Williamsons. Consider also Lisabeth's speech at the Fourth of July Picnic.

Essay Topic 2

Doig divides "English Creek" into four Parts, each introduced by a blurb from the "Gros Ventre Weekly Gleaner." What is the significance of the divisions in the narrative? What function does each Part serve? How do the newspaper blurbs relate to the Parts?

Essay Topic 3

The fishing exploits of the McCaskill males are mentioned frequently in the novel. Discuss the poignancy and symbolism of Mac's death, when he is found with nine fish on his stringer and one on his hook.

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