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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 nickname does Eli’s father call their neighbor who has his horses stolen in Chapter Four?

2. How old is Jeanne in the flashback where the Colonel is ninety-eight in Chapter Five?

3. What is the name that the Indians give to Eli McCullough during his captivity?

4. How old was Jeanne’s mother when she died?

5. How many people does Peter say Pancho Villa killed across the border in New Mexico in Chapter Twenty-one?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does the McCullough family’s acquisition of the Garcias’ land impact the community in Chapter Eighteen? How does Peter feel about the acquisition?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the characters of Corkie and Jonas in the novel. Where does Jeanne meet Corkie? What are her impressions of this character? How are Jeanne and Jonas similar? How do these characters differ?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the setting that is established in Chapter One of The Son. Where and when was Eli McCullough born? How does he describe the world that he grew up in? What are some examples of imagery from the chapter that help to develop a tone surrounding this setting? What influence does this setting have on Eli’s character?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Jeanne’s reasons for siding with Phineas regarding the future of the McCullough ranch in Chapter Twenty. Do you think that Jeanne might have had a different reaction to the situation if she had not been presented with college? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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