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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 does Mountain of Rocks ask Eli to leave him when he is traded to the Comancheros in Chapter Thirty-one?

2. What is the name of the troop leader that Eli convinces to conduct a raid on the Federals in Chapter Fifty-two?

3. Who helps Eli out of his legal problems in Chapter Forty?

4. When is Chapter Twenty-six set?

5. What was the name of Maria’s father?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Prairie Flower die in Chapter Twenty-eight?

2. How is Jeanne affected by Hank’s death in the novel?

3. How does the author illustrate Jeanne’s political connections in Chapter Thirty-five?

4. Why does Peter express unhappiness about the discovery of oil on his family’s land?

5. Why do Eli’s troops raid the Federal soldiers in Chapter Fifty-two? What happens during the raid?

6. How does the relationship between Hank and Jeanne develop in Chapter Thirty-two?

7. How does the relationship between Eli and Ellen develop in Chapters Thirty-three through Thirty-seven?

8. What is the earliest conflict between the Garcias and the McCulloughs, as illustrated in Chapter Fifty-nine?

9. What irony can be seen in Prairie Flower’s death in Chapter Twenty-eight?

10. Why do you think that Maria tells Peter about the curse on the Garcia family in Chapter Forty-two?

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

Discuss the nonlinear structure of The Son and the differing narrative styles established in the novel. How does the language style of each of the narrators differ? Does the narrative style reflect the time periods in which the story takes place? Why do you think the author chose to structure the novel in this way?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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