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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 is passed out in the corner after the groom's breakfast?

2. Where does William's daughter go to college?

3. Who is surrounded by "tiers of flesh"?

4. What mammal does William see at the large freshwater lake in the middle of the swamp?

5. Who is Michael Campbell?

Short Essay Questions

1. What caused the "ugly smears" in the sky in October in the first section?

2. What has survived the frost in the first section to Abigail's surprise and how?

3. What memories does Abigail think of after she thinks the owl flies over the river?

4. What is Abigail's reasoning for watering the geraniums so late in the season?

5. What is the reaction when William subscribes to the New York Tribune at his daughter's request?

6. Immediately after Lorena's death, what plants does William notice?

7. Why is the November evening so quiet and final?

8. In addition to the month being stated, what other clues about the season is the reader given in the first paragraph?

9. How does William live his life after the death of his wife and son?

10. Describe the still that William eventually finds.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss William's excitement at the "game" of finding a still in the swamp. Why would this bring about a change in his behavior?

Essay Topic 2

In the first section of the book, the reader is introduced to Abigail. Although no specifics are given, it's evident that Abigail has been through a lot. Describe Abigail's mood. What in the first section helps you arrive at your conclusions?

Essay Topic 3

Describe what the author means by "keep your heart ticking under the sheltering arches of your ribs."

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This section contains 718 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample