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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 did Lucy object to Will doing with the children?

2. Who does Will run into at the hotel on his wedding night?

3. What is Castalia's nickname?

4. Who was the man who saved Will's leg during the war?

5. Where is Lucy living at the beginning of the novel?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is the only man that Lucy likes in the nursing home?

2. Why do most of the slaves remain at The Lilacs even after they are freed?

3. How old was Willie when he became a soldier and how did the war affect him?

4. How old are Lucy and Will when they meet and begin a courtship?

5. Why does Lucy allow Will to tell his war stories to the children in spite of her objection to them?

6. How does Lucy first meet Castalia?

7. Which person does Lucy select as the topic of her paper on the Civil War, and how does she glean her information?

8. What is the irony of Sal Smith's situation when Will sees him again many years later?

9. Who was Lady Marsden and what were some of the things she was noted for?

10. How did the slaves treat Lady Marsden after she was burned in the fire at The Lilacs?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Gurganus use the literary technique of local color in OLDEST LIVING CONFEDERATE WIDOW TELLS ALL? What elements comprise local color? Give some examples of the local color in Falls establishments, in the characters, and in the events.

Essay Topic 2

Create a brief character study of Lucy Marsden. What does she look like? What are her positive personality traits? What are some of her negative characteristics? What are her hopes and fears? What motivates her during her lifetime?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the role of women in the early to mid 20th century when Lucy is living her life. How did women's roles evolve? What precedents did they feel compelled to follow? What restrictions did they have? What freedoms did they have that 21st century women do not?

(see the answer keys)

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