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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 does Venters tell Lassiter as he leaves Surprise Valley?

2. When Venters finally catches up to Black Star, what does he think has happened to the horse?

3. After the race, when Venters arrives at Tull's house, what does Tull do?

4. The morning after the storm, what does Bess ask Venters?

5. Who tells Bess about the fate of her father?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Venters shoots Oldring, Oldring tries to say something before he dies. What do you think he was trying to say? Why is Venters so upset when he talks to Bess on his return to Surprise Valley? What does he decide not to tell her at this point?

2. Why is Jane angered when she meets Bess? What else does Jane discover when she and Lassiter meet with Bess and Venters?

3. Even though Jane knows that the house has been fired, she doesn't look back. Why? Is this part of her "giving up?"

4. Lassiter arrives in Surprise Valley and meets Bess. He studies her, and, then, suddenly rises to leave. What is Lassiter thinking? What do you think he has figured out about Bess?

5. What is the symbolism of Jane giving her horses to Venters and Bess? How does this show forgiveness?

6. When Lassiter returns from Surprise Valley, what do he and Jane discover about her horses? Why is this important? What does this mean to Jane and Lassiter?

7. When Venters tells Bess he must return to Cottonwoods for supplies, what does she think? Why does Bess not feel worthy of Venters attention? What has changed Venters since he came to the valley?

8. The title of the book is used for the first time in Chapter 22 as Bess looks at the band of riders and calls them sage riders. What does this mean? How is this different that rustlers?

9. Describe the trial of Jane's men. Who is the judge? Do you think this is a fair trial? Why or why not?

10. Why does Venters shoot Wrangle? Why didn't one of the men do this before now? What keeps them from shooting the horses?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does it affect Jane's sense of guilt when her father is described as a feudal lord? Compare Jane's behavior with her father's toward the village, Mormons and Gentiles. What is the same? What is different? What about Jane's relationship with Milly? If Jane's father was indeed married to Milly, what relation is she to Jane?

Essay Topic 2

What is the symbolism of the sage? How does the sage define the lives of the characters? Start when Venters chooses to go sleep in the sage instead of sleeping indoors. Does the sage mean freedom? Peace? What?

Essay Topic 3

Is the character of Oldring good or bad? Describe the stories about Oldring that are bad. Describe the stories about Oldring that are good. In the end, how do you feel about this character? Can you imagine this story without him? Why? Why not?

(see the answer keys)

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