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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. What establishment was Gideon convicted of robbing?

2. Where is the U.S. Supreme Court located?

3. What does the judge in Gideon's first trial neglect to tell Gideon?

4. Abe Fortas learns that the ______________________ of Gideon's first trial was/were not recorded.

5. Among the most important concepts for the Justices is the determination of _________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What issue has been on the minds of the Justices lately that gives Gideon's petition some extra attention?

2. What is so unusual about Gideon's tenacity in preparing his petition to the Supreme Court?

3. What is the famous 1940s case whose precedent denied Gideon an attorney at his criminal trial?

4. What is the typical course for a case to reach the Supreme Court?

5. How does Fortas learn more about Gideon during the months after he is appointed to represent him?

6. Do the Supreme Court Justices get to decide which cases they will hear?

7. What is Gideon's mood as he heads into his Supreme Court trial?

8. What kind of power do the Supreme Court Justices have and how do some of them feel about it?

9. How does Fortas get the information he needs about Gideon's previous trial?

10. What are Gideon's intentions for his life should he be released from prison?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The struggle for justice takes on an almost human persona in this story. What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the irony of Gideon's not being able to ever hold a job very long in his life yet having the tenacity to hand write pages and pages of his petition to the Supreme Court. What gave Gideon his inspiration to keep pushing forward? How would Gideon's life have been different if he had applied this same tenacity to making a decent living and caring for his family? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the overall settings for the story. What is important about each setting as it is revealed? What is the time period of the story? How important is the time period to the attitudes and issues of the people?

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