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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 the march for the Confederate soldiers at the beginning of the novel so difficult?

2. When he joins the family business, who keeps Grant away from customers?

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

4. How many Confederate commanders think the battle in Chapter 1 should be called off?

5. Who yells at Luther's troop to close the gap in the swamp?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Luther's first hand-to-hand combat.

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

3. Describe General Johnston's death, as witnessed by Luther.

4. Describe the letter from Johnston read to the troops as they march to battle.

5. Why do some troops hear different versions of the letter from Johnston as they march to battle?

6. Why, according to Walter, do the soldiers in his troop want to fight at Shiloh?

7. What does Colonel Appler do when Sherman leaves his camp? Why?

8. How do Luther and fellow troop members treat the ones who are lying on the ground?

9. Explain the Union battle line up.

10. How does General Grant go from being called "Useless" Grant to becoming a general in the war?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the primary theme of this book? What is a motif from the novel? Discuss both, explaining the difference between a theme and motif in literature.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the differences between major and minor characters in literature. Discuss Palmer and Jefferson as major characters and select two other characters to analyze as minor characters. How do the minor characters fit the definition?

Essay Topic 3

Identify and discuss three points of foreshadowing from the novel. Did the author use foreshadowing effectively? Why or why not? Define foreshadowing in your essay as well.

(see the answer keys)

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