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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 Jurgis already know about Ona?

2. Why does Ona want to get a job?

3. Where does Jurgis go to look for work?

4. What kinds of cows are killed, which upsets Jurgis as he works?

5. Who has had to give up her dream of marriage?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Jurgis beat up Conner?

2. Why does Jurgis get his job back at Brown's?

3. What happens at Marija's job at the beef trimming factory?

4. What begins to happen to Ona in this chapter?

5. What is the Lithuanian family in the first chapter traveling to?

6. Why can't any people pay off the 'new' houses they have bought?

7. What does Jurgis begin to do in order to deal with the horrors of his situation?

8. What is one of the ways the slaughterhouse bosses cheat the men out of money?

9. Why does Jurgis decline to be in the union at first?

10. Why are the sausages the family eats not helping their nutrition?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The prison that Jurgis winds up in seems to have better living conditions than his home. What do you think is Sinclair trying to say about society and its criminals? If someone were to wind up in prison during this time, what motivation would they have for ever leaving, given the conditions they live in? Why do you think Jurgis ends up in jail so often? Do you think he does it on purpose? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Jurgis has a motto of "I will work harder." Does this attitude ever help Jurgis? Describe how. List at least two situations in which this positive attitude does not help Jurgis? Do you think this is a good motto to live by? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The deaths of the animals is not only shocking, but also horrifying. What do the animals symbolize in this story? What does their treatment have to say about society at this time? Do you really think the meatpacking bosses really just wanted to make a profit, regardless of the horrors? What does this say about these bosses? What does this say about society?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 681 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample