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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 makes some of the Confederate soldiers in Chapter 1 yell for joy?

2. What does Palmer call the Confederate army from the vantage point of a ridge in Chapter 1?

3. What does Walter's commander make the aides and officers do?

4. To which regiment does Walter Fountain belong?

5. How does Palmer's father lose an arm?

Short Essay Questions

1. What issue does Palmer see with the Waterloo-based strategy?

2. What does Sherman do with the information provided to him by Colonel Appler?

3. Explain three ways the Rebels made too much noise to make a surprise attack possible.

4. What was Walter's typical day like, and why is it unusual?

5. What are the challenges of the swamp Luther and his troop face? What happens to General Cleburn?

6. In the letter he is writing, how does Walter say his troop arrived at Shiloh and what problem did they face?

7. What is a skirmish? How is it different from a battle?

8. Discuss the dream Palmer has the night before the major battle.

9. How do the other Confederate commanders feel about Johnston's recommendation to pull out and why?

10. What is the significance of the drum heard in Chapter 1? Why is it important?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an overview of the author's life and other works.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the structure of this novel. Discuss the importance of the structure of this book. Why might the author have chosen to present the book in this structure?

Essay Topic 3

Define exposition and discuss the exposition of "Shiloh: a Novel by Shelby Foote". What does the reader learn from the exposition? Is the information consistent throughout the book or does it change? Explain your answer and reasoning.

(see the answer keys)

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