View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Carl say Marie and Emil were the ones to die?

2. What does Emil give to Marie when the lights go out?

3. Whom does Ivar say will comfort Alexandra after the deaths of Marie and Emil?

4. What does Alexandra tell Carl she feels Emil has done to her?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Marie think about when she sees Frank's old cane?

2. Why does Alexandra feel safe marrying Carl?

3. What does Emil ask Alexandra about their grandfather, and what is her response?

4. What brings Emil joy while at church after Amedee's death and how does he feel about this?

5. How does Alexandra describe her personal life?

6. What does Marie do when she hears about Amedee's pain?

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

8. What does Alexandra do when she first gets to Lincoln to visit Frank in prison?

9. What did Frank do when he came home from drinking after Amedee's death?

10. What does Carl say to Alexandra before he leaves her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The characters in this novel all had their own goals and motivations. Select four characters and write their main motivation throughout the book and how this goal affected the characters around them.

Essay Topic 2

Shame and propriety are common themes throughout this book. What are some of the instances where these themes are present, and why are they so important to the characters involved?

Essay Topic 3

Friendship is a strong theme throughout the book. Where are some places that this theme appears, and how do the characters touched by it react? How do certain friendships change over the course of the book, and what causes these changes?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 758 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample