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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 tactics do the Sioux use as the Battle of Little Big Horn begins?

2. Who does Jack rediscover while out with his new friend in chapter 20?

3. What symbols are interpreted by Jack for Custer?

4. Where are Jack and his Cheyenne band camped?

5. What is Jack told is wrong with the guns the soldiers have?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who does Jack believe the prostitute is that Wild Bill has purchased for him in a local brothel?

2. Why does Jack believe his killing of Custer after the attack at Washita would have altered history?

3. What job does Jack attempt to get with the Seventh Calvary?

4. How does Jack finally become a scout? Who is he to report to?

5. Who does Jack discover Younger Bear has taken for a wife?

6. Why does Jack come to believe Caroline has gone insane?

7. What is significant about the name given to Jack's son with Sunshine?

8. What does the writer/editor say about his opinion of the truthfulness of Jack's story?

9. How does Jack go about making money to support Amelia?

10. Where does Jack go after the Battle of Little Big Horn?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Bill? Why does he appear to be unwashed? What does this signify? Why does Jack not tell Bill who he is? What is the significance of the snake heads in Bill's barrel of whiskey? Why does this nearly cause the men to kill Bill? Why does Jack do nothing to stop this situation? What does Bill represent in Jack's mind?

Essay Topic 2

Who is George Armstrong Custer? What is significant to the reader when Custer is first introduced to the plot? Was Custer a real person? How does the author's depiction of Custer fit with what the reader may already know about him? Why does Jack want to kill Custer? What does Jack blame Custer for? Why is Custer hunting the Indians? What will the eventual outcome of this hunt be? How does the reader know this? How does this foreshadow danger and add tension to the plot?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following historical figures, comparing the history of their lives and the stories told about them in this novel:

1) George Armstrong Custer

2) Wild Bill Hickok

3) Walt Whitman

4) Wyatt Earp.

(see the answer keys)

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