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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 does Samuel Gatewood want his slave to be married?

2. What does Alexander Kirkpatrick's wife pray for because it sometimes slows the number of wounded arriving at the hospital?

3. Why is the person that Uther Botkin's slave wishes could help her with the planting in jail?

4. What happens when Alexander is sent to deliver a message to a particular group about to be hemmed in during the fighting in Part III, Chapter 28?

5. Where is Samuel Gatewood's son hit by a bullet during battle?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens at the military institute, where Duncan is present to hear a speech, which causes a fight?

2. How did Uther Botkin obtain his property that he now lives on?

3. What does Abigail's Cousin Molly bring Sallie when she comes to visit her in jail?

4. While Sallie is working at the hospital, what does a young soldier ask Sallie to do for him?

5. Why is Alexander called into the office of the acting keeping at the penitentiary in Part II, Chapter 18?

6. What does Silas do to Ellam when he learns of his treatment of Maggie?

7. What happens to Alexander during his first time in battle?

8. How does Opal help Uther Botkin with his daughter and his farm?

9. What happens the third time that Jesse tries to run away from the Stratford Plantation?

10. How much money is Silas going to sell Maggie for as incentive for Ellam to treat her with some respect until time for the sale?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Jesse is one of the main characters in "Jacob's Ladder" and is a slave of Samuel Gatewood's. He has been trying to find Maggie ever since she was sold. Analyze the character of Jesse and his importance in the story. Why does Jesse keep trying to run away? How is Jesse treated as a slave? How does Jesse feel about the war? What kind of person is Jesse? How has Jesse affected Maggie?

Essay Topic 2

Description is the fiction-writing mode for creating a mental image of a story. Examine the use of description in "Jacob's Ladder: A Story of Virginia During the War". How does the author graphically describe life in Virginia during slavery and the Civil War? How are the characters described? How does the author use dialogue, imagery, and even sentence structure to help describe?

Essay Topic 3

Cousin Molly is an interesting character in that she seems to be clinging to the past that no longer exists. She becomes very important in Sallie's life and therefore an important character in the story. Analyze the character of Cousin Molly and her effect on Sallie. How does Molly meet Sallie? Why does Molly want to help Sallie? How does Molly use her humor to help get Sallie to trust her? What kind of person is Molly? How does Molly become a lifeline for Sallie during her prison sentence?

(see the answer keys)

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