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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. How many men has Will killed?

2. What does Will give to Lucy when he returns from the hunting trip?

3. Unison's father and three brothers were all killed in the span of ________________.

4. What musical instrument does Unison play?

5. What does Will do with the musket with which he killed men?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Will's journey home after the end of the war.

2. How does the author show that Lucy is weary of Will's war stories?

3. Describe Lucy's success at teaching Sunday School

4. Who is Maimie L. Beech?

5. Describe Lucy and Will's separation after Ned's accident.

6. What was the fate of Cassie and her parents?

7. Why does Lucy decide to leave her family and what gives her validation on her decision?

8. How does Lieutenant Prothero behave inappropriately toward Unison Randolph?

9. Why does Maimie decide to kill herself?

10. What story does Lady Marsden ask Cassie to tell as they wait for Sherman's troops to arrive?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in the story. Which of the characters are lonely? Are they all lonely in some way? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss whether Will was a victim of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. What are the symptoms of this disorder? What behaviors haunted Will for the rest of his life after his service in the Civil War? What do you think people called this disorder which was not formally recognized at this time?

(see the answer keys)

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