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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. Joe Dale's son was arrested for having a carload of what objects on the grounds of the racetrack?

2. Where does Deucey arrange for Maggie to sleep for the night in Chapter 3?

3. How does Little Spinoza exit the gate in his first race in Chapter 18?

4. What does Alice sing to Little Spinoza before the race in Chapter 20?

5. From whose viewpoint is Little Spinoza's castration described in the opening of Chapter 15?

Short Essay Questions

1. How are Boll Weevil and the Mahdi compared to one another as they prepare for the first race?

2. How is the horse named Little Spinoza regarded by the main characters in the novel?

3. What does Deucey relate to Maggie regarding luck in Chapter 2?

4. What is a hot walking machine? What does this apparatus symbolize in the novel?

5. What crucial information does Tommy reveal to Joe Dale during their conversation in Chapter 19?

6. What demand does Two-Tie make of Vernon during their phone conversation in Chapter 17? Why does he make this demand?

7. What is contained in Medicine Ed's red velvet bag? What is the purpose of this concoction?

8. When is Lord of Misrule set? What indications in the novel reveal the time period of the story?

9. What inner conflicts does Maggie face in Chapter 15?

10. How has Two-Tie's behavior changed in Chapter 17? What are the impacts of the changes in Two-Tie's character?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the themes of aging and death in the novel. How does the author develop these themes through the horses at the track? How is the theme developed through character and imagery? What characters face death in the story?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the character of Medicine Ed. For how long has Medicine Ed been involved with horses and horse racing? What are Medicine Ed's main objectives in the story? Does he achieve those objectives?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the character of Maggie in the novel. What is Maggie's history? What motivates Maggie to come to the racetrack? How does Maggie's character evolve in the course of the novel?

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