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. What is the name of Prairie Flower’s sister in the novel?

2. What year is described by Eli in Chapter Thirteen?

3. When is Chapter Twenty-two set?

4. How is Peter McCullough related to Jeanne McCullough?

5. The Indian that Eli kills in Chapter Thirteen is from what tribe?

Short Essay Questions

1. What items are taken when Eli’s family’s home is ambushed by the Indians in Chapter Four? Why are they taken?

2. What gender biases does Jeanne face growing up, as seen in Chapters Fourteen through Seventeen?

3. Why are homesteaders like Eli’s family in danger of raids? What has created these circumstances?

4. What internal conflicts does Peter face when Charles shoots Dutch Hollis?

5. How does Sally respond to the situation after Charles has shot Dutch Hollis? Why does Peter disagree with Sally?

6. How do Eli and Martin differ in their response to the circumstances once they are captives in Chapter Four?

7. What action does the Colonel take after Peter’s son has been shot in Chapter Six?

8. How do the Colonel and Charles differ in their viewpoints about their land and future?

9. What information is related regarding Jeanne’s mother in Chapter Five?

10. What are Jeanne’s perceptions of her classmates at the girl’s boarding school in Chapter Seventeen?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore and discuss the themes of “alienation” and “morality” in the novel. In what ways do each of the three narrator/protagonists face alienation in the course of the story? What moral decisions are made by these characters, and upon what is their morality based?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and analyze the character of Maria Garcia in the novel. How old is Maria when she appears at Peter’s doorstep in Chapter Thirty? How long has it been since Peter has seen Maria? What are Maria’s objectives in coming to the McCullough ranch?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Eli’s encounter with the buffalo hunter that is taken captive by the Indians, and Eli’s actions, objectives, and obstacles in helping the man. What dangers does Eli face by killing the buffalo hunter? How does Eli go about poisoning the man? Why does Eli poison him?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 926 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample