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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 is the most likely way the farm will be saved?

2. Who is Zeke Wooston?

3. How many more days are there to the trip?

4. What does Montero say about the idea of finding gold in the hills?

5. What is the name of Sean's boat?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Sean come to be a sailor?

2. Describe the Mulkerin ranch house.

3. Why do Juan and the others leave camp in the middle of the night?

4. What does Juan say about men following them and what is Sean's response?

5. How is Mariana received at the Mulkerin home?

6. Why is the Mulkerin family's hope in Sean Mulkerin?

7. How does Eileen's family end up in Spain and then how does Eileen end up in Mexico?

8. Where do Eileen and Juan go and what do they talk about as they travel?

9. Why does Juan say he must go with the group, and why must they learn the route?

10. Who is Juan?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Answer one of the following in an essay:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in "The Californios". Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think L'Amour chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in "The Californios". Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think L'Amour chooses the metaphors he does?

3. Discuss L'Amour's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, cliffhangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does L'Amour use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation of how Machado is on somewhat friendly terms with Sean Mulkerin by the end of the book. What other situations contain irony in "The Californios"?

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use and meaning of five symbols you choose to analyze from "The Californios:. What do they symbolize? Is the symbolism obvious? Effective? Does the symbolism contribute to the enjoyment of reading?

3. Discuss five literary devices that occur in "The Californios" and how they are used. Are they effective? Do they add or detract from the reading of the book? Why or why not. Some possible techniques: Allusion, connotation, denouement, dialogue, flashback, figurative language, motif, metaphor, narrator, point of view, simile, mood, and puns.

Essay Topic 3

In most fiction, readers would like all the loose ends to be neatly "tied up." Discuss the following:

1. Do you think "The Californios" is successful as a western novel? Why or why not.

2. What about this book would motivate you to read another of Louis L'Amour's western novels? What would discourage you from doing so?

3. Were all the "loose ends" satisfactorily settled for you? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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