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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 happens when Will gets closer to the places with the most painful memories?

2. Cassie tells Lucy that Lucy doesn't know how to be _____________.

3. What was the name of Lady Marsden's mansion?

4. What does the Captain do during the night?

5. What did Lucy object to Will doing with the children?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does the novel begin?

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

4. Why is Lucy's wedding night especially difficult for Lucy on two levels?

5. Even though Lucy is younger than Will, how does she view him regarding his emotional war wounds?

6. Who is Sal Smith and what role did he play in Will's life during the war?

7. What role do soap operas play in the nursing home where Lucy lives now?

8. How does Ned's mother react when Will visits her to talk about Ned's death?

9. What is Will's behavior at the site where Ned was killed?

10. Who was Ned Smythe and what was his role in Willie's life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The theme of the passage of time will be an important one in the novel. How does the author begin to build this theme? Give examples of the passage of time throughout the book.

Essay Topic 2

The author begins the story in the present day and tells the story through a series of flashbacks. Why did he choose to tell his story this way? In what way is a flashback technique more interesting for a reader? In what ways is it more complicated?

Essay Topic 3

OLDEST LIVING CONFEDERATE WIDOW TELLS ALL is a classic historical fiction story. What does that classification entail? Why does this story fit into this category?

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This section contains 952 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample