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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 Robbins react when he finds Philamena in Richmond after she has run away a second time?

2. Who does Augustus buy from his former owner, William Robbins?

3. What mistake does Frazier make when he approaches this woman to discuss his latest writing project?

4. Who is prisoner Jean Broussard accused of killing?

5. Who are Henry's favorite authors?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is significant about the fact that Henry Townsend owns slaves?

2. What could Fern not break Henry of no matter how hard she worked at it?

3. What causes the feud between Harvey Travis and Clarence Wilford?

4. Why does Clara Martin suddenly become convinced that her slave, Ralph, wants to kill her?

5. Who was Henry Townsend's first slave?

6. Why does Robbins continually raise his asking price for Henry Townsend's freedom?

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

8. Who is Luke? How does he die?

9. Who does Calvin have a crush on? Why does Calvin believe this person would rebuff any suggestions of romance? Where does Calvin want to go and why?

10. What promise does Caldonia make to the slaves after her husband's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the treatment of slaves in this novel. Who treated the slaves worse, the white plantation owners, the white lawmen, the black slave owners, or the slave overseers? What are the differences between the various treatment of the slaves? Who thought they treated the slaves better? Did they? Why or why not? Is it possible to treat a slave kindly? Should slaves have been freed by their black owners? Is it more morally corrupt for a freed slave to own a slave than a white man who has always been free? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss morality. What is morality? Are moral issues black and white? Should people own slaves? Should only whites own slaves? Should only black own slaves? Does it make more sense, morally, for a black to own a slave? Why or why not? Should slaves supervise and punish one another? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Why does Caldonia begin an affair with Moses? Does Caldonia love Moses? Why or why not? How does learning of Moses' treatment of Celeste affect Caldonia's opinion of Moses? What does Moses do with his family when he begins an affair with Caldonia? Why? What does Skiffington believe Moses has done with his family? Why? Why does Moses barge in on Caldonia and ask why she has not freed him? Why does Moses believe Caldonia should free him? Will she? Why does Moses run away? Where does he go?

(see the answer keys)

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