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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. Who is Castalia?

2. In what subject is Professor Taw interested?

3. Will is nearly __________ when he marries Lucy.

4. Lucy once follows Cassie ____________________.

5. What is the name of the area where the freed slaves camp in Falls?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is the premise of OLDEST LIVING CONFEDERATE WIDOW TELLS ALL?

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

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

5. Why did Will make the trip to Massachusetts to meet with Simon Utts' family?

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

7. What is the initial relationship between Lucy and Castalia (Cassie)?

8. Why is Lucy concerned for Will during the family's trip to view Civil War sites?

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

10. How does Lucy first meet Castalia?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

What is the point of view of the novel? Why did Gurganus choose to write the story from this perspective? What are the benefits and the limitations to this particular point of view?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 893 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample