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| Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. How much force does it take on the trigger to fire that "sweet" rifle that Cornish McManus builds?
2. In New York, John Byam often shoots and kills English soldiers in the opposite lines at what range?
3. John Waynewright often complains that Cornish McManus is too what?
4. John Waynewright spends most of his time studying what aspect of rifle construction?
5. Why was curly maple so prized for gun-stocks?
Short Essay Questions
1. The novel spends many pages describing the construction of the rifle. Do you have a clear mental image of the processes involved in hand-making a muzzle-loading rifle?
2. Imagine you are the "sweet" rifle. Who would you rather be owned by--Cornish McManus or John Byam?
3. Most gunsmiths would test their barrels early in the manufacturing process, to avoid wasting time finishing faulty barrels. Cornish McManus does not test his barrel until the entire gun is finished. Why?
4. Do you think that John Waynewright would have valued Cornish McManus's "sweet" rifle?
5. Describe the initial organization of McRary's Rangers.
6. Cornish McManus is a superb gunsmith with great vision and skill. Describe his shooting ability.
7. The cover image of several common editions of the book shows a highly-engraved flintlock rifle. Does the book describe the rifle as being engraved?
8. Is the "sweet" rifle evil?
9. What was John Byam called in his day as a soldier? What would he be called today?
10. In reviewing John Byam's actions in the novel, would you consider him a hero?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Why does the novel spend so much time characterizing Richard Allen Mesinger? After all, his interaction with the rifle lasts less than one second and the narrative makes it clear that Mesinger never even knew he was being killed. Within the narrative, what difference does it make that Mesinger was who he was?
Essay Topic 2
Describe the processes that Cornish McManus used to manufacture the rifle.
Essay Topic 3
Describe the early life and the family life of Richard Allen Mesinger. Why is it important within the narrative that Mesinger is a likable and typical teenager?
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This section contains 584 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) |
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