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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 Ginny hear one night as she and Tom make love?

2. What does Ginny still see as a mission in her marriage?

3. What does Tom do every night?

4. Florrie does not believe in ___________________.

5. What is the name of the family which lives on the other side of the mountain?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Ginny feel as if she is fighting for her place in the family regarding Florrie's help?

2. What is the purpose of Ginny's letter to Locke?

3. What is the purpose of Chapter 10 regarding Ginny's feelings about Florrie?

4. How is the blinding smoke a metaphor for Ginny and Tom's marriage?

5. What tragedy occurs when Ginny attends her first revival in a long time?

6. What is the nature of the dream that Ginny has regarding Thurman Johnson?

7. To what does Ginny attribute the bright, white light when she is ill and having delusions?

8. How do Ginny and Tom experience a "baptism of fire" when their land catches on fire?

9. Explain what Tom does when Ginny refuses to stay home from the revival and what his motivations might have been.

10. Soon after the birth of Ginny's son, Muir, why does Tom get so angry when she invites the midwife's children to stay for awhile?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a brief character study of Pa. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him--if anything--at this point in his life?

Essay Topic 2

What does the land signify for Tom? Why does it take such an important place in his life? Is it possible that Tom gets his spiritual satisfaction from the land as opposed to going to church and revivals?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the use of fire in the lives of Ginny and Tom. What does fire typically signify in literature? What are its meanings in this book? What does the author intend to show by having their "baptism of fire" in the book?

(see the answer keys)

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