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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 did Ruth feel about Jack doing all of the dirty tasks around the farm?

2. What is Mat's response to Margaret's suggestion regarding Jack?

3. What did Jack do during his time off?

4. What does Jack do after their daughter is born?

5. When Hannah transports her children, who greets them at their destination?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Jack's relationship with Ben?

2. What is Jack's relationship with Nancy?

3. What part of Jack's memory at the beginning of the novel involves Mat?

4. What was Jack's family's participation in the Civil War, and how did they feel about the issues surrounding it?

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

6. Why did Jack confront McGrother?

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

8. What is the summary of Mat Feltner's conversation with with his wife about Jack coming to live with them?

9. What happened to Jack's horses and wagon during the storm that occured while he was in town trying to buy flour?

10. Who is Hannah Coultner and what is her relationship to the Feltner family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Memory of Old Jack is a novel of historical fiction. Write an essay that explains what makes this novel historical fiction as opposed to simply fiction. Include a summary of the historical events and issues that this novel addresses.

Essay Topic 2

Wendell Berry uses symbolism throughout The Memory of Old Jack. There is symbolism in the book title, in the chapter titles, and in the events that Jack remembers. Write an essay that focuses on three specific incidences of symbolism in the novel. Summarize the symbolism elements you have chosen to write about and explain what each element represents.

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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