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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. What was Ruth's character like?

2. What is the name of Hannah Coulter's first husband?

3. As Jack walks along after leaving the store, he recalls being a man of what age?

4. How does Mat describe his relationship with Jack?

5. What is Jack's state of mind when Mat arrives at the store?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Jack's relationship with Hannah Coultner like?

2. What are the two different views of Andy's upcoming departure for college?

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

4. How does Ruth feel about Jack?

5. What was Jack's relationship with his father like?

6. What was Jack's relationship with Ben Feltner?

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

8. As the book opens, what does Jack remember about mules as he stands on the porch listening to Mat call the cows?

9. What happens to Ruth and Jack's marriage after their daughter is born?

10. What is Jack's relationship with Nancy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Mat tells Mattie the rabbit hunter story, the moral of the story is that people should be content with what they have in life and not strive to acquire more. Is that moral the moral of Jack's life? Was Jack truly content with what he had? Did Jack escape the temptation to strive for more in all areas of his life? Was Jack's contentment with life always a good thing in all aspects of his life? Write an essay that analyzes Mat's impression of Jack's contentment with life.

Essay Topic 2

Most of the novel shows that Jack is fraught with regret about things in this life. As he reflects on his life, it is apparent that he is not particularly happy with it, though perhaps he is content. The climax of the novel involves Jack's death. This combination does not necessarily make for a cheerful uplifting, novel. Write an essay that addresses the entire mood of the novel. Was the mood intended to be depressing? Did you find the mood inspiring? How effective was the mood in proving the author's point?

Essay Topic 3

One of Jack's memories is of Will Wells, a black man hired by Jack to help work on Jack's expanded farm. It bothers Jack that Will will always be working to help further Jack's economic status and never for his own farm. This is a result of the times. Black men, though not slaves anymore, did not typically have the means to purchase their own land. Write an essay that addresses race as an issue in the novel.

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