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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 gives Hattie warning that someone is approaching?

2. Who visits Hattie the morning after she learns of the flu epidemic?

3. What does Hattie manage to do despite her fears?

4. With what is Hattie threatened when she voices her concern about a pledge?

5. Who drops his/her flag?

Short Essay Questions

1. What new debt does Hattie learn of when she visits Nefzger's store?

2. What has Hattie been doing at night to fight the heat?

3. What does Hattie's next installment describe?

4. What does Traft have to say as he stops by and waters his horse?

5. Who comes to help Hattie with the threshing and how does Chase contribute?

6. What does Hattie think about after witnessing events at the Ren homestead?

7. What epidemic strikes the area where Hattie lives and what does Leafie do?

8. How does Hattie learn about birthing babies the hard way?

9. What happens after Hattie and the others who are threshing see big, black clouds rolling in?

10. How does Hattie acquire chickens and what does she have to do to keep them safe?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an important part of what makes "Hattie Big Sky" interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Hattie. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Perilee. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Traft Martin. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

In most fiction, readers would like all the loose ends to be neatly "tied up." Discuss the following:

1. Do you think "Hattie Big Sky" is successful as a teen historical fiction? Why or why not.

2. What about this book would motivate you to read another of Kirby Larson's western novels? What would discourage you from doing so?

3. Were all the "loose ends" satisfactorily settled for you? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation of how Hattie prays for divine intervention after the hailstorm destroys her crops but most would consider a hail storm an "act of God." What other situations contain irony in "Hattie Big Sky"?

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use and meaning of five symbols you choose to analyze from the story. What do they symbolize? Is the symbolism obvious? Effective? Does the symbolism contribute to the enjoyment of reading?

3. Discuss five literary devices that occur in "Hattie Big Sky" and how they are used. Are they effective? Do they add or detract from the reading of the book? Why or why not. Some possible techniques: Allusion, connotation, denouement, dialogue, flashback, figurative language, motif, metaphor, narrator, point of view, simile, mood, and puns.

(see the answer keys)

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