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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. Who alerts Eileen that Sean has arrived?

2. Where is Eileen's father killed?

3. What does Sean not understand?

4. What unusual gift did Jaime have that Eileen admired?

5. What is Michael going to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Eileen end up moving to Malibu?

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

3. What does Juan say to Sean, Montero, Eileen and Mariana when they arrive at his home?

4. Why does Juan not think there is a reason to share much about his people and their history?

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

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

7. Who is Juan?

8. Describe a couple of the men who are with Wooston when he comes to tell Eileen of Wooston's intentions to evict the Mulkerin family.

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

10. How does Sean come to be a sailor?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and sometimes it is the other way around. Some books seem to balance the two. 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 it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think "The Californios" is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of interesting questions raised by "The Californios", questions that most readers may want to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the L'Amour's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss L'Amours' probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of L'Amour and see if/where his life may have influenced his writing.

(see the answer keys)

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