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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. As Jack reflects following his time at the store, what does he think will haunt him for the rest of his life?

2. How is the meal prepared at the destination of Hannah and her children?

3. When did Jack buy his team of mules?

4. What does Ruth tell Jack after their daughter is born?

5. About how many years ago did the events of the memory occur?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Mat finds Jack at Jasper Lathrope's store, what is the extent of the conversation Mat has with Jack?

2. What happened between Jack and Will that caused Will to leave?

3. Why did Jack confront McGrother?

4. What was Jack like when he was younger?

5. How does Jack feel about his memories?

6. What was the relationship like between Jack and Will Wells?

7. After the dinner at the Feltner's house, what is the memory that Jack has about?

8. How does Mat feel about Lightning and Smoothbore Berlew?

9. How would Jack feel after his nights off?

10. What is Jack's relationship with Ben?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Of note in the novel is the emphasis that the author places on the slow death of the agrarian society in America post World War II. Write an essay that summarizes how Berry showed that agrarian society was dying out and being replaced by modern society. Give examples from the novel that show how Berry could have possibility felt about the issue as he wrote the novel.

Essay Topic 2

Human beings all leave a legacy when they die, whether it is bad or good. Write an essay that describes the legacy Jack left. To whom was his legacy? Was it a lasting legacy? Was it a worthwhile legacy?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay on Jack's wishes for Bible readings at his funeral. Mat seems to know what kind of funeral service Jack would have wanted. Although Jack wanted a simple service, Mat mentioned that Jack would have wanted the Psalms from the Bible read during this funeral. Does this surprise you, considering the fact that Jack never really paid attention during church? Why would Jack have wanted a religious funeral when religion did not play a part of his life other than something he did on Sunday mornings? Was a religious service something that the Port Williams people just did because it was the culture at the time, or did Jack really believe in the religion?

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This section contains 830 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample