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. What does Will feel about seeing General Lee?

2. How many years does Cassie's mother wait before she tries to escape?

3. How does Will greet Lucy when she arrives at the hospital?

4. Why do Lucy's children like going to Cassie's house?

5. Which of the following is NOT one of the items that Lieutenant Prothero brings with him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What role does Will have in the annual parade of the Daughters of the Confederacy in Raleigh?

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

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

4. Why does Maimie decide to kill herself?

5. Describe Lucy's success at teaching Sunday School

6. What decision does Lucy make after she has been home again for a few weeks?

7. What are the circumstances in which Maimie is terminated by Angus McCloud?

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

9. What prevents Lucy from leaving with the children?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the overall setting for the novel. Why does Gurganus use the setting he does? What is the time period of the story? How important is the time period to the attitudes and issues of the characters?

Essay Topic 3

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of loss. Identify at least two examples about loss in the book. Then explain how each example supports the theme of loss.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,087 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample