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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 Greek goddess of love and beauty does the narrator describe a sculpture of in “Life in the Iron Mills”?

2. By what nickname is Hugh Wolfe called in the mill in “Life in the Iron Mills”?

3. Christ is described in “Life in the Iron Mills” as having stood “with the fishermen and harlots by the sea of” what?

4. What is the name of the jailer in “Life in the Iron Mills”?

5. Waiting for the Verdict is a novel about what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where did Rebecca Harding Davis grow up, according to the author of “A Biographical Interpretation”? How is her family described?

2. What do the visitors at the mill tell Hugh Wolfe regarding his future as an artist in “Life in the Iron Mills”?

3. Who did Rebecca Harding Davis meet on her first trip North, according to the author of “A Biographical Interpretation”?

4. How is the sculpted figure discovered by one of the visitors at the mill described in “Life in the Iron Mills”?

5. How is Hugh’s demeanor in the jail described in “Life in the Iron Mills”? What are Deborah’s impressions when she sees Hugh?

6. What are the impressions of the visitors when they see the sculpture in “Life in the Iron Mills”?

7. How would you describe the setting of “Life in the Iron Mills”? What tone is established through the story’s setting?

8. What does Deb attempt to give Hugh after they return home from the mill in “Life in the Iron Mills”? How does Hugh respond?

9. How is the character of Janey described in “Life in the Iron Mills”? What is Janey’s relationship to the other characters?

10. What exchange takes place between Deborah and the Quaker woman at the jail in “Life in the Iron Mills”?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Plot Structure

a. Discuss the plot structure of stories in the collection. In what ways is the narrative related and what effect does this have on the reader?

b. How do the stories in the collection compare with other works written during this time period? Are there specific stylistic elements that can be seen in Davis’s writing?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the language style and narrative point of view in “Life in the Iron Mills.” Who is the narrator of the story? Is the narrator’s perspective omniscient or limited? How does the dialogue of the story differ from the expositional style?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the central conflicts in “The Wife’s Story.” Why is Hester conflicted about the move to Newport? Why does Hester choose not to share her thoughts and ambitions with her husband? Are the central conflicts in the story internal or external?

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