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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 sheriff’s name that visits to talk with the Colonel after the disappearance of the Blounts in Chapter Fourteen?

2. How many bedrooms are described in Jeanne McCullough’s home in Chapter Two?

3. How is Eli McCullough related to Jeanne McCullough?

4. What is Eli McCullough’s nickname in the novel?

5. What Indian tribe do the people belong to that have raided Eli’s home and kidnapped him in Chapter Four?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Peter’s relationship with the Garcia family illustrated in Chapter Three?

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

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

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

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

6. How is sexual promiscuity among the Indians described in Chapters Nine through Thirteen?

7. What time period is Chapter Four set in? How old is Eli, and what position does he have within his family?

8. What prompts Jeanne’s decision to side with Phineas in Chapter Twenty?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author’s depictions of gender bias in the novel. Consider the following female characters in the reading: Jeanne McCullough, Yellow Hair, and Hates Work. How do each of these characters face discrimination based upon their gender? How might their position change if they were male?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Examine Peter McCullough’s account of the conflicts between the McCullough and Garcia families. How does Peter’s account of the events differ from his father’s? Who do you think is relating the truth of the matter? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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