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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 do the Wells tell their housekeeper in order to keep her away from working when Cora is sick?

2. Ridgeway takes a detour in Tennessee because they encounter a town that is quarantined as a result of what disease?

3. What gift does Royal give to Cora in "Indiana"?

4. Who had given Caesar the book that he goes to read at the schoolhouse?

5. In "Mabel," the narrator says, "The first and last things she gave to her daughter were" what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the "close calls" that could have led to Cora's discovery in "North Carolina"?

2. What leads to Mabel's death, as revealed in "Mabel"?

3. What does Cora observe about Fiona from the attic in "North Carolina"?

4. How are the fall festival activiities described at Valentine farm?

5. What is "Manifest Destiny" and how is it discussed in the novel?

6. How does the "Wanted" posting differ in "The North" from the ones in previous chapters?

7. Who speaks at the community meeting in "Indiana"? What do they say?

8. How is the night before the community meeting described in flashback in "Indiana"?

9. How did Martin become involved with the Underground Railroad?

10. What does Cora note about the landscape as she crosses through Tennessee?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the character of Sam in The Underground Railroad. Where does Cora meet Sam? How does Sam help Cora and Caesar? What information does Sam relate when he later visits Cora at Valentine farm?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the author's use of symbolism and imagery in The Underground Railroad. What are some prominent symbols that appear in the work? What do they represent? What are examples of similes, metaphors, and onomatopoeia used? How do these examples serve the work?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the plot structure of The Underground Railroad. Where in the narrative are the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement? How traditionally structured would you consider the plot to be? Does the plot progress in a linear format or a nonlinear format?

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