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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. Which of the Shimerda children is considered most important by his parents?

2. How does Antonia show her affection for Charley?

3. Who teaches Yulka to read English?

4. What does Antonia say was found in the pocket of the tramp who died in the thresher?

5. Which of the following is not a detail about Antonia that Mrs. Steavens shares with the Burdens?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Peter and Pavel

2. What is a rattlesnake cane? What is its importance for the Burdens?

3. Describe Jim's experiences when he is housebound due to illness

4. Compare and contrast the town and city girls (from Jim's point of view).

5. How is Jim like the Shimerdas as they both travel to Nebraska?

6. Describe the gifts that Jim and his grandparents give to the Shimerdas for Christmas.

7. Retell the story about Lena being responsible for Antonia's feelings about the girl.

8. What change in Jim's life occurs in the first chapter of Book 2? How does it affect him?

9. What is significant about January 22 in this novel?

10. Describe Tiny Soderball's work and living environment

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Select the most sympathetic and least sympathetic characters in the novel. Write an essay:

1) describing why you think each is sympathetic/not sympathetic

2) defend your position using details from the novel

Essay Topic 2

Death plays an important role in this novel. Write an essay:

1) describing the ways death is portrayed in the novel

2) examining the significance of death in the plot and character development

3) arguing what you believe the author is trying to say about mortality through the novel.

Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

The settings used in My Antonia almost serve as characters in the novel. Select three of the settings in the novel and:

1) discuss the impact of the setting on the plot development

2) discuss the impact of the setting on the characters

3) the ways that the narrator personifies the setting

Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

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