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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 is the name of Jeanne McCullough’s eldest brother?

2. About how long has Eli been a captive of the Indians in Chapter Thirteen?

3. About how much money do the McCulloughs pay for the Garcias’ land?

4. Chapter Four begins in the spring of what year?

5. What does Eli describe as “the largest and wealthiest of all the Comanche bands” in Chapter Nineteen?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How is the theme of ethnic bias illustrated in Chapters Nine through Thirteen?

4. What are Jeanne’s opinions of the Garcia family? How did Jeanne develop these opinions?

5. How would you describe the narrative style of the first three chapters of the novel?

6. What is related about Eli McCullough’s early life in Chapter One? Why do you think this information is important?

7. What concerns Jeanne the most as she faces her own death in Chapter Five?

8. How are the living conditions of the Indians described in Chapter Nineteen?

9. How are Peter and Eli McCullough different in their outlooks and approaches to life?

10. What information does Phineas present to Jeanne when she visits him in Austin in Chapter Twenty?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the impact of Charles McCullough’s death on the McCullough family and particularly on Jeanne. Why do you think that Charles chose to leave almost all of his inheritance to Jeanne? How does Jeanne react when she learns this information?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of “imparting a personal legacy” in The Son. What advice does the Colonel give to Jeanne McCullough regarding her own personal legacy and the importance of putting one’s name on something? Do you think that this is sound advice? Why or why not? How is this theme illustrated through imagery and characters in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the character of Toshaway in the novel. How old is Toshaway when his character is introduced? What is Toshaway’s position within his tribe? How large is Toshaway’s band of Comanche? How would you describe Toshaway’s relationship with Eli McCullough?

(see the answer keys)

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