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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. When is Chapter Thirty-one set?

2. What are the names of Jeanne’s grandsons?

3. When is Chapter Fifty-two set?

4. How does Jeanne describe her feelings about motherhood in Chapter Thirty-eight?

5. What is the date of Peter’s first diary entry in Chapter Thirty-nine?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think the Colonel wants Maria out of his home in Chapter Thirty-three?

2. How does Judge Black’s wife perceive Eli when he returns from the Rangers in Chapter Forty?

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

4. What leads up to Eli’s arrest in Chapter Thirty-seven? Who turns Eli in?

5. How does Eli return from Indian captivity to civilization in Chapter Thirty-one?

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

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

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

9. What are Jeanne’s perceptions of the “Honey Hunt” she attends in Chapter Fifty-three?

10. What circumstances lead to Peter’s isolation on the ranch in Chapter Twenty-four?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Analyze and discuss the character of Martin McCullough in the novel. How old is Martin when the McCullough homestead is raided? What kind of relationship do Martin and Eli have? How are Martin and Eli different in their responses to captivity by the Indians?

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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