View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is the sweat ceremony for?

2. What does Cassidy keep in his thermos with the cash?

3. Who is responsible for giving hot rocks into the sweat?

4. What does Gabe tell Cassidy about the Mauser he brings to the sweat?

5. What machines are elk particularly afraid of?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Cassidy become so angry at Gabe in Part IV?

2. Why does Gabe suddenly leave the sweat lodge in Part IV?

3. Why does Gabe kill Cassidy in Part IV?

4. Why does Gabe go to see Denorah right before the sweat ceremony?

5. What does the Elk Spirit do to make sure she keeps an eye on Gabe in Part III?

6. What does Gabe take from his father's house in Part III?

7. What does Gabe tell Denorah in Part III that she does not know whether or not is a compiment?

8. When do Cassidy and Gabe start to realize something might be wrong with Victor?

9. What is Victor's role in the sweat ceremony?

10. How does Nathan Yellow Tail feel about the sweat ceremony?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why do you think Jones decides to tell the climactic events of the Elk Spirit's confrontation with Denorah from the point of view of an elderly tribal storyteller at the end of the novel? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to support your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

How would you describe Jones's tone throughout the novel, and why do you think he strikes a hopeful note with Denorah's choices and actions at the very end of the novel? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your analysis.

Essay Topic 3

While Jones explores the bond between the Elk spirit and her calf, he omits any exploration or mention of the mother-child relationships of his four main characters, Ricky, Cass, Gabe, and Lewis. Write an essay analyzing Jones's treatment of the theme of mother-child relationships.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 607 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample