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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 do Antonia and Jim's grandmother discover when they return to the Cutter home to pack up Antonia's belongings?

2. Who does Jim invite on a hunting trip in the Fall?

3. What does Rudolph tell Jim was the source of much conflict between the Cutters?

4. To whom does Jim dedicate his speech?

5. What became of Antonia's marriage to Larry Donovan?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Cuzak's life story as he tells it to Jim

2. What does Jim see on the wall of the photographer's studio? How does this affect him?

3. What feelings does Antonia share with Jim as they wait for the others to arrive at the river? How does Jim reassure her?

4. How does Cleric Gaston interpret Virgil's line "Primus ego in patriam mecum . . . deducam Musas", or, "for I shall be the first, if I live, to bring the Muse into my own country.?"

5. What is symbolic about Jim and Antonia talking at Mr. Shimerda's grave site?

6. What does Jim tell the group of girls to convince them that Spaniards settled in Nebraska?

7. How does Jim mark his transition to manhood in this chapter?

8. What causes Jim to reinterpret sections of Virgil's Georgics? How does he see a particular passage differently?

9. Why does Jim believe he will never be a brilliant scholar?

10. How does Jim's grandmother react to Jim attending dances at the Fireman's Hall? How does Jim respond?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In My Antonia a few minor characters have a major impact on the story line. Select one of the following minor characters to analyze: Wick Cutter, Otto Fuchs, Tiny Soderball, Ambrosch Shimerda. Discuss:

1) The personality (character traits) of this character

2) The relationship between this minor character and the major characters in the story

3) The impact of this character on the story line--How does s/he influence the overall story line? How would the story be different if this character was removed?

Essay Topic 2

In the final book of the novel (Book 5) the author abruptly shifts the narrative forward 20 years. In your essay:

1) describe how the last chapter reads differently than the earlier chapters

2) explain why you think the author made this shift

3) react to her choice. Do you think this was the best way to end the novel? Why?

Be sure to use specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

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

(see the answer keys)

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