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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. How does Ben feel about Carrie's sister, Flora?

2. To what does the word snake refer when Clabe uses it when pointing at his paycheck?

3. On what day of the week does Clabe get paid?

4. Where does Rondal go with C.J. when he visits?

5. For whom does Clabe go to work?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Carrie say she first remembers about Ben Honaker and her sister?

2. What does C.J. find out about Rondal in a letter from him and how does he feel about the information?

3. From Clabe's stories to Rondal how has the family land changed and what does Clabe and his family do on Sundays?

4. What happens to Johnson and why does Rondal leave town?

5. Who is unhappy about Flora's wedding, why is she, what does she tell Flora and what is Carrie's response to that to Flora?

6. What does Miles find out about Lloyd, why does he leave Miles' mine and what does Carrie ask him before he leaves?

7. What happened with Rosa and a butterfly when she was young, what reminds her of that, why does she want to leave Mario and what did Mario do to Francesco?

8. What does Rondal do on his first day in the mines and how does he feel at the end of the day?

9. How do the club members get out of jail?

10. What does C.J. realize about Rondal and what does he do about it? How does Rondal respond?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Setting as far as place and time play an important role in Storming Heaven, if compared to twenty-first century's social mores. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast several aspects of the setting of that day from how it would be today. Consider things such as cultural norms/expectations, technology, religion and medicine.

2. Do you think Storming Heaven would be different if it were set in another country in that same era? Consider particularly class issues.

3. What issues that are present in the time of Storming Heaven would still be issues today? What would no longer be issues? Consider such things as class, women's roles, sexual freedom, propriety and manners, and integrity, and labor laws.

Essay Topic 2

Titles are thought to be very important in both giving the reader a clue about the story and enticing one to read a book. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think Storming Heaven is the chosen title for this novel?

2. Do you think this title would entice you to read this novel? Why or why not?

3. Do you think this rather nondescript title reflects the story it heralds? Explain your response using examples from the book.

4. If you had to title this novel in order to encourage more readers, what would you name it and why?

Essay Topic 3

In a last burst of hope mixed with anger, the miners confront the army of guards. The miners lose. When two groups are opposed, the one that is most organized and structured ultimately wins.

1. Compare the situation of the miners with a situation in American history, for example the American Indians opposing the white man.

2. Do you believe the most powerful and organized always wins? Can the flea make the lion surrender? Why or why not?

3. How would this situation correlate with guerrilla warfare?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,197 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample