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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. Where is the battle that Catesby and Samuel Gatewood's son are fighting in Part II, Chapter 19?

2. How many months after Uther Botkin's wife gives birth does she die?

3. Catesby writes a letter to his wife in Part III, Chapter 32. What does he tell her has happened to Duncan?

4. What does a Confederate solider tell Rufus and Jesse before shooting Rufus in the chest?

5. Years ago, what name was Miss Marguerite known by?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What was Miss Marguerite's name in 1857?

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

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

5. What happens to Duncan Gatewood when the storm, Cox's Snow, hits?

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

7. What happens to Duncan during the big battle at McDowell?

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

9. Why did Sallie marry Alexander Kirkpatrick in a hasty marriage?

10. What does Ellam Omohundru do with Maggie in Part I, Chapter 10?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The resolution is of a series of events that follow the climax of the story, and therefore provides the conclusion of the story. Examine the resolution in "Jacob's Ladder", particularly how it pertains to all the different characters. Is the resolution in "Jacob's Ladder" satisfying? Should it have ended it differently? How does Jesse deal with never finding Marguerite? Compare the resolution in "Jacob's Ladder" to resolutions in other books the class has read.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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?

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