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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 poem describes the Spoon River Cemetery?

2. Who was crushed by a falling carriage?

3. Whom did John M. Church defend?

4. Where did Daniel M'Cumber go?

5. Why did a resident of Spoon River steal blankets?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the types of people included in the section beginning with Fiddler Jones and ending with Mrs. George Reece? Give one example of each.

2. Why does Masters introduce some honorable characters in the section beginning with Conrad Siever and ending with Cooney Potter?

3. How is Emily Sparks different from the other residents at the beginning of the "Spoon River Anthology"? How does she fit in with the other residents?

4. Explain the relationship between Hamilton Greene and Elsa Wertman.

5. Why can Nicholas Bindle be considered foolish? Why can he be considered heroic?

6. What does John Cabanis say did NOT contribute to his decision to leave the conservative party to lead the liberal party?

7. What happened to Ollie and Fletcher McGee? Why?

8. Explain the relationship between Roscoe and Mrs. Purkapile.

9. Did Searcy Foote feel justified in killing his aunt with chloroform? Why?

10. Name three residents of Spoon River who are considered foolish in the section from Conrad Siever to Cooney Potter. Why is each considered foolish?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Masters explore ethics in "Spoon River Anthology"? Use the example of at least one resident to support your claims.

Essay Topic 2

Explain how Masters's use of poetry affects the reader's experience in reading "Spoon River Anthology". How would it be different if it were written in prose?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the types of souls that exist in the epitaphs of the "Spoon River Anthology".

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This section contains 771 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample