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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 Emil talk with Amedee before leaving for Omaha?

2. Whom does Alexandra say are the only people who truly own land?

3. Why will Alexandra never permanently leave the Divide?

4. What does Amedee complain about while talking to Emil before he moves to Omaha?

5. How does Alexandra describe Lou and Oscar before Emil leaves after the festival?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Marie ask of Emil after the wedding of Alexandra's personal servant, and what is his response?

2. What does Frank say to Alexandra when she comes to see him in prison?

3. Why did Carl never respond to Alexandra's letter to him?

4. How did Ivar find out about the murders?

5. What does Alexandra say makes her mourning harder, and what does she do to ease this?

6. What does Alexandra give Marie as she leaves the visit with Mrs. Lee?

7. What is Alexandra's fantasy?

8. What happens to Amedee when Emil is about to leave for Omaha?

9. Why does Alexandra feel safe marrying Carl?

10. What happened to cause Alexandra to harden her heart against Carl?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

This book takes place in a few different settings. Describe some of these settings and how they affected the course of the plot. Why might Willa Cather have chosen these particular places for this plot to take place?

Essay Topic 2

Belonging and security were two themes present in this book. Where did these themes appear, and which characters were most motivated by them?

Essay Topic 3

What were some of the forms of foreshadowing used in this book, and how did those moments affect the course of the plot?

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This section contains 655 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample