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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 Russell feel as he is leaving the cave?

2. Why is Sean hunting?

3. What idea does Eileen share with Sean?

4. Why is Eileen concerned about Juan?

5. Who is Mariana supposed to find?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Russell and Francisco doing in the mountains, and why does Francisco anger Russell?

2. What is Los Angeles like at the time of the setting of "The Californios"?

3. What does Silva tell Wooston that angers Wooston, and what concerns Machado and Russell?

4. Why does Eileen apologize to Juan?

5. What happens that makes Russell leave the cave?

6. Who are the men that Sean meets who Montero sends to help the Mulkerin family?

7. What does Sean say to Wooston and Machado and what are their responses?

8. Who arrives at the party unexpectedly and how does he make Sean jealous?

9. What happens when Russell wakes in the night, and what does he do in the morning?

10. What does Eileen decide in order to "buy" time?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes a book more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Louis L'Amour.

2. What in Louis L'Amour's background may have helped him in writing "The Californios"? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

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

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).

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 970 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample