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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 do the Puritans disapprove of Thomas Morton?

2. Who is Freydis?

3. How does Williams suggest that Ponce de Leon feels when he hears about Cortez and the wealth of Montezuma?

4. Where does Eric the Red go to start over?

5. What kind of woman is Freydis?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the cacique of Quigaltam react when De Soto tells him that De Soto is the "child of the sun" and must be obeyed and offered tribute?

2. Why is Columbus puzzled by the way the King and Queen treat him?

3. How does Poe respond to his critics?

4. How could Raleigh have avoided being beheaded?

5. How does Eric the Red feel about living in Greenland?

6. Why does Benjamin Franklin say that manufacturing is not a viable activity in the American economy?

7. Why does Ponce de Leon send women ashore when he first arrives in Guadaloupe?

8. In his letter to Benjamin Franklin, why does John Paul Jones keep bringing up the conduct of Captain Landais?

9. Why does Williams describe the New World as a white flower that was to turn into a poisoned apple?

10. Why did De Soto's men try to keep the Indians from finding out about his death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Consider the story of Pere Rasles. Why do you think William Carlos Williams admires Rasles so much? Write an essay explaining Williams' admiration for Rasles, supporting your thesis with evidence from In the American Grain. Do not rely only on evidence that you can find in the chapter, Pere Sebastian Rasles--include evidence from other chapters as well.

Essay Topic 2

Williams writes about three historical figures who admired Indians and who preferred living with Indians to living with white settlers. Who are those three figures? Write an essay in which you draw on details from each of their stories to explain why Williams so idolizes men who made this kind of choice.

Essay Topic 3

How does Williams regard America's Founding Fathers? Find the chapters in which Williams writes about some of the Founding Fathers and determine what characteristics of these men Williams admired, and what characteristics he regarded as pernicious. Then, write an essay describing Williams' attitude toward the Founding Fathers, drawing on the evidence that you collected to support your work.

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