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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. Where does Elmira reluctantly agree to go with two of the whiskey traders?

2. Who gets trapped beneath the wagon in the river?

3. What does Louisa want from Roscoe?

4. What does Gus find to use as cover from the attacking Kiowas?

5. What unusual food does Po Campo make?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Gus understand about the constant talk of Sean's death?

2. What does Lorena ask Dish when he arrives at the Dry Bean? How does it make Dish feel?

3. What does Gus notice about the first forty horses that makes him laugh?

4. What does Gus want to know about July as they go to Blue Duck's camp?

5. What does Elmira decide to do after the whiskey boat?

6. How does Jake respond when Gus comes into Jake and Lorena's camp?

7. What did Jake Spoon talk about at breakfast that interested Call and Gus?

8. What does Gus fear concerning Lorena now that Jake Spoon is in town?

9. What does Jake tell Call about he and Lorena tagging along the herd?

10. How does Elmira react to the news that July is going to find Jake Spoon?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The relationship between Call and Newt lies at the core of a major theme of the novel. Write an essay detailing Call's feelings for Newt. In what ways does Call show he accepts that Newt is his son? Does he give Newt special treatment over the other cowboys? In what ways does he not accept that Newt is his son? Why does he refuse to claim Newt openly?

Essay Topic 2

Call and Gus feel that they must hang Jake, even though he is their friend, because he is riding with murderers and horse thieves. Jake feels he is innocent because he has not killed anyone or personally taken horses. However, he does not put up a fight and dies an honorable death.

Part 1) Is Jake guilty as a murderer and horse thief? If not, what crime has he committed? Are his crimes worthy of hanging?

Part 2) How does Jake feel about his sentence? Use examples from the novel to support your answer.

Part 3) How does Call feel about hanging Jake? In what ways does he show he might regret it? How does Gus feel about hanging Jake? Does he have any regrets? How does he handle them? Are Gus and Call influenced by other events in the novel in carrying out Jake's sentence?

Essay Topic 3

Who is the central character of Lonesome Dove? Select one (Call, Gus, Newt, Jake, July) and write an essay supporting your choice as the main character of the novel.

Part 1) How does the character you selected change in the story?

Part 2) How does the character influence the other characters or plot? Use examples from the novel.

Part 3) How would the story be different if the novel was presented in that character's point of view only?

(see the answer keys)

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