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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. To whom does Catesby want Samuel Gatewood to write a letter?

2. What are woman like Marguerite known as at the governor's party?

3. What are Alexander Kirkpatrick and his wife forced to do while in jail?

4. What does Alexander tell Samuel Gatewood's son he claimed so he could be assigned to his regiment?

5. What is the name of Marguerite's maid?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the prison keeper tell Sallie about Alexander during one of her visits with Cousin Molly?

2. Why does one of the surgeons, James Lane, ask that all the Union soldiers be taken to another surgeon for the rest of the evening?

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

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

5. What does Catesby lose after playing cards in Part I, Chapter 11?

6. What is Jesse's new job in Part III, Chapter 31, at the hospital?

7. How is Alexander assigned to Duncan's regiment?

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

9. While attending church, what does Opal beg Jack to do for her?

10. What happens to Uther Botkin's wife, Martha?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most of the characters in "Jacob's Ladder" have no idea what the war will do to their lives. Examine how the characters' first ideas of the war differ from the actual realities of the war. How do Duncan's fantasies really have nothing in common with the realities of war? How can someone's fantasy of something almost make the reality harder to bear? Is Alexander having a harder time dealing with his reality because of his preconceived notions of war?

Essay Topic 2

Marguerite and Silas's relationship has quickly changed and grown into something more. In fact, Silas treats Jacob, Marguerite's child, as if he were his own. Analyze Silas and Marguerite's relationship and discuss how it changes throughout the novel. How do Silas and Marguerite meet? How does Marguerite really feel about Silas? Is she just using him for money? How does Silas really feel about Marguerite? Why is Marguerite worried about having a child with Silas?

Essay Topic 3

In Part II, Chapter 26, Jesse and Rufus run away and learn that Abraham Lincoln has made the Emancipation Proclamation. Jesse and Rufus have no idea what they are taking about. Research the Emancipation Proclamation and examine how it affected the Civil War and slavery. How did it affect the outcome of the war? What did it entail? Why would Jesse or Rufus not know anything about it? When was it put into effect?

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