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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 opens the crate and frees Rita after her forty-one hour trip East?

2. What threat does Robbins level on Philamena when she returns from Richmond after her second attempt to run away?

3. What ailment does Robbins suffer from?

4. Who is Philomena?

5. What habit does Ramsey have that causes trouble for him and for Fern?

Short Essay Questions

1. What gift are John Skiffington and his wife, Winifred, given at their wedding?

2. What is significant about the subjects Anderson Frazier writes about?

3. Who is Augustus Townsend?

4. Why does John Skiffington decide to get married in 1840?

5. What punishment did Henry demand for Elias after he attempted to run away? Why?

6. What do the slaves fear upon learning of the death of Henry Townsend?

7. Who asks Fern to take Henry on as a student? Why?

8. What is Caldonia's twin brother, Calvin's, opinion on the slaves? Why?

9. Where does Skiffington want to move and what does he plan to do with Minerva once they arrive?

10. For whom does Elias carve a doll? What is significant about this doll?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Fern? Why does it never occur to Fern to pass as white? Why does Fern remain married to Ramsey? What kind of husband is Ramsey? What is Ramsey's favorite pastime? Does this make Ramsey a bad person? Is Ramsey bad to Fern? What does Fern learn from a slave about Ramsey's fidelity? How does this affect Fern's marriage? Why? How does Fern feel about being a slave owner? Why does she not feel shame at owning slaves? Should she?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss William Robbins' affair with a black woman. Why does Robbins have this affair? Why does Robbins hide this mistress off of his plantation? Why does he father children with her? How does Robbins care for the children? Why does the mistress twice try to run away? Where does she go? How does Robbins find her? How does Robbins feel about his mistress? Why does he beat her, leaving her disfigured?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Augustus and Mildred Townsend. How do they feel about slavery? From where do their opinions come? Why do they disapprove of their son's decision to own slaves? What happens when they learn of this decision? Why do Augustus and Mildred stay in the slave quarters when they visit their son? Why do they not stay in the house? Why are they not proud of their son's achievements? Should they be?

(see the answer keys)

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