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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. For what does C.J. praise Isom?

2. What are the railroad companies doing to the farmers?

3. Why is Dillon making a banjo?

4. For what does Clabe's family look when walking in the woods?

5. What does Carrie do after nursing school?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens at a club meeting when the men are debating World War I?

2. How does Dillon feel about what the coal companies are doing and what does he do in response to their actions?

3. What is C.J. thinking about babies and what does he remember about a discussion he had with Dillon? What is Dillon making and why?

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

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

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

7. What are the railroad companies doing to the farmers and how do the get it done?

8. What does Carrie do after nursing school and where does she live?

9. What does Rondal do after working in the mines for two years and what is the response to his efforts?

10. What does Carrie figure out about a typhoid outbreak and what do the mining companies tell her when she tries to do something about it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Storming Heaven, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements (They may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

Storming Heaven is a historical novel that tells the story of struggling West Virginia coal miners in the early twentieth century, which is a story that has often been neglected by history books. This novel gives a fictional but accurate account of how the miners stood together and how business and political interests used deadly force to preserve the oppressive conditions. Discuss the following:

1. How do the interest of business and politicians coincide in Storming Heaven? Use examples from the text to support your response.

2. Do you think there are any incidences or events in present day America in which big business and politicians seem to combine their power in ways in which it might not be in the best interest of the lower economic classes? Why or why not? Use examples to support your answer.

3. There have been a number of incidences in American history where the government has used deadly force against its citizens even as recent as the 1960's and 1970's. Do you think it is possible the government would ever use force against its citizens in the present time? Why or why not?

4. The miners, after many atrocities began to meet violence with violence. Do you think this was the wrong approach? Why or why not?

5. Do you think the miners had the moral right to use violence when it was used against them? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Plots are sometimes said to be either character-driven or action-driven. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think Storming Heaven is more character-driven or action-driven? Explain.

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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