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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. Who is described in Chapter 37 as having been kicked by a bull but still is looking forward to the dance?

2. Who among Mrs. Abigail Blass's children does she describe as having a bad foot?

3. How many children does Mrs. Abigail Blass say she had with her husband?

4. Who is attributed as the writer of All This Did I See: Memories of a Terrible Time in Chapter 2?

5. Who is attributed as the author of Essay Upon the Loss of a Child?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Mrs. Delaney's plight described in Chapter 31?

2. Why does Willie refuse to pass on from the bardo for much of the novel?

3. How is the appearance of Roger Bevins III described in Chapter 9?

4. What is the unnatural predilection that Roger Bevins III describes in Chapter 9?

5. What does Abraham Lincoln do when he enters the mausoleum in Chapter 16?

6. How does Roger Bevins III describe his suicide attempt in Chapter 9?

7. How are Mr. Randall and Mr. Twood described?

8. How is the appearance of Hans Vollman described in Chapter 9?

9. Who is Flanders Quinn and how is he described?

10. What is the inciting incident that transitions the plot to rising action?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and analyze the character of Reverend Everly Thomas in Lincoln in the Bardo. When did the Reverend come to the bardo? Why did he refuse to pass through the gates? What makes the Reverend stand out amongst the inhabitants of the bardo?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the characterization of Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln in the Bardo. What characteristics of Lincoln stand out? How does the author's interpretation of Lincoln compare with other interpretations? What role does Abraham Lincoln play in the novel's plot?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the character of Hans Vollman in Lincoln in the Bardo. For how long has Vollman been in the bardo? Who is his best friend? How did Vollman come to die? How does his character evolve in the course of the novel?

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