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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. In the first Book of Abigail, what month is it?

3. What is a 'painter' as mentioned in the Book of William?

4. From what state did William Marshall Howland originally come?

5. When William is called to war, where does he go?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Abigail, William's daughter, as a child.

2. What is the appearance of the front yard in the first section/chapter?

3. Explain the term Freejack.

4. Describe the Howland tomb and its eventual use.

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

6. Describe the still that William eventually finds.

7. What does the narrator mean when she says that the county will find out about her oldest daughters being sent away because "they always know everything"?

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

9. In the first Book of Abigail, what does Abigail remember of being a child in this house?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Abigail knows that John has joined racist societies like the Ku Klux Klan and the Citizen's Council. At first she believes that it's just something he's required to do as a Southern man in power. Since he treats Margaret and Oliver nicely, she believes he isn't prejudiced. Discuss what prejudice is and what it looks like.

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

Compare and contrast the mood of the writing between the Book of William and the Book of Margaret.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 766 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample