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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. Upon what ship does Jason stow away?

2. What did Homer sell to come to the gold fields?

3. What did Jason's father say he would never be?

4. Why might Jason be stopped at customs?

5. What does Jason wonder when he prepares to leave again?

Short Essay Questions

1. How long does it take Jason to get across Bennett and what are his hopes?

2. How does Jason get a canoe?

3. What does Jason use his earnings for and why does he end up collapsed on the trail?

4. What does Jason know about his brothers?

5. What does Jason think could stand in his way besides the weather?

6. When Jason comes back to Skagway, what are people complaining about, who is head of law enforcement and who is working with him?

7. On what date is Jason Hawthorn hawking papers, where is he, what is the big news and what does Jason want to have the opportunity to do?

8. What does one have to take to get to Canada and how does Jason manage it?

9. What does the old man on the train talk about that does not interest Jason much and what does he learn from the old man?

10. Who are Homer and Jamie Dunavant and what is their story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Kristina is no exception.

1. Trace and analyze situations where Jason demonstrates his fear and hopelessness. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Jason's character flaws, and explain how they create a more complex and believable character. How do you think Jason's character flaws make some situations more difficult for him?

3. After analyzing Jason's strengths and weaknesses, decide if Jason is the "hero" of the story. Explain your reasoning.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss "Jason's Gold" based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if "Jason's Gold" is a successful novel. Explain your rationale with specific examples.

3. Do you think the fact that "Jason's Gold" is primarily for entertainment changes the criteria upon which its success should be judged? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of change. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with change? Why? What are some symbols of change? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of perseverance. Which characters seem to have a great deal of perseverance and which do not? Why? Which characters seem really determined and courageous? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death. How did the death of Jason's father affect him? What about his dog, King? How was his reaction to both deaths similar and different?

4. Discuss why Abraham and Ethan leaving Seattle without Jason was a type of death for the Hawthorn family. Use examples from the book to illustrate your discussion.

(see the answer keys)

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