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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 the minister for the Meeker family?

2. Who is the girl that Sam likes?

3. How does Betsy signal to Tim that Sam has returned?

4. Why does Tim say he needs the gun?

5. What has Sam come home to get?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of obedience in the novel?

2. How does Tim see evidence that Sam is a lot like Father?

3. In addition to uncertainty, how is powerlessness an important element in what the people of Redding are experiencing?

4. What is the difficult decision that Father must make in Chapter 7?

5. How has the war taken a toll on the security of ordinary people during this time?

6. What web of lies is Tim weaving related to working for Mr. Heron?

7. How does the author use religion as a theme in this book?

8. How does the threat of war finally arrive in Redding?

9. How does the author characterize Sam?

10. How is the author showing how Tim is more like Sam than he might want to think?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the maturity that Tim shows during Sam's last few days and then the execution. What does he do to show that he is truly a man now both physically and emotionally?

Essay Topic 2

For much of the novel, Tim is torn between his loyalty to the family and his loyalty to his brother, Sam. Describe the turning point when Tim realizes on which side his loyalties lie.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the life of the Meeker family at the beginning of the book. Include their occupation, their home life and family members. How do these elements evolve as the story progresses to the end?

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