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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 the slave that tended Jeff?

2. What does Jeff find out concerning Lee Washbourne?

3. How does the Washbourne house appear?

4. How many men station themselves on the Union side of the Arkansas River?

5. Why doesn't Jeff ride his horse?

Short Essay Questions

1. What information does Jeff gather the night he swims with the enemy?

2. What is done in the Jackman home to teach the girls good breeding?

3. What is the "social duty" detail that Jeff is ordered to participate in?

4. After the Battle of Prairie Grove what do Jeff and Noah do?

5. When Jeff became ill, how does he get to the Jackmans' home?

6. What is Jeff's punishment for refusing to participate in the execution?

7. Who is Frank Brandt?

8. Describe Boggy Depot.

9. Where do Jeff and Jim Bostwick end up on their scout?

10. What information does the letter in the haversack contain?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are many different things that the author uses as recurring tools in the story:

Part 1) What is the importance of the animals that keep occurring in the story and Jeff's obvious connection with them? What is the significance that Jeff's dog lays down to sleep with him after he returns home in the last chapter?

Part 2) There are many different colors used over and over again in the story to draw the readers attention. What colors stand out the most during the story? Why does the author chose to use colors as a literary tool?

Essay Topic 2

Lucy asks Jeff in her letter if he thinks of her and asks him to write back.

Part 1) What does Jeff most likely write back in his letter.

Part 2) What challenges did the people face in reuniting with their loved ones after the war was over?

Essay Topic 3

Part 1) Why did the author choose to write the story in past tense? What does it convey to the author?

Part 2) Why does the author reveal at the end of the story that Jeff will sleep on the ground for many years to come but not answer the question of whether he will be able to find Lucy?

Part 3) Would it have been as effective to write the story in present tense?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 894 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample