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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 is the name of Catesby Byrd's wife?

2. Why does the surgeon in Part III, Chapter 28, insist that all the Union soldiers be taken to another surgeon for the rest of the evening?

3. What did Uther Botkin inherit?

4. Where does Catesby tell Samuel he should send someone to get his son who has been wounded in battle?

5. Who arrives at the hospital to visit Duncan and apologizes for his melancholy attitude?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. In Part III, Chapter 28, how does Maggie, now known as Marguerite, feel about her life with Silas?

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

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

7. What does the judge sentence Sallie and Alexander to for being abolitionists?

8. 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?

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

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

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

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

Miss Marguerite is the narrator and one of the main characters in "Jacob's Ladder: A Story of Virginia During the War". Analyze the character of Miss Marguerite throughout her different name changes in her life: Midge, Maggie, and Marguerite. How did Marguerite change with each name? How does this influence the overall story? Where is Midge from, and where does she live? Who owns Midge? What is different about Midge's race from that of other slaves?

(see the answer keys)

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