View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How much further does Jurgis have to walk to get to the boarding house?

2. How much money does Jurgis have in the bank at this time?

3. How does Jurgis feel when listening to this speech?

4. How much does Jurgis give Stanislovas to help the family?

5. What does Jurgis find out when he walks home from prison?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Jurgis goes back to the fertilizer mill?

2. What caused little Antanas' death?

3. Where does Jurgis finally find the job that makes him happy, though he does not hold onto it for long?

4. Why doesn't Ona come to the courtroom during Jurgis' sentencing?

5. What happens when there is a strike at the stockyard where Jurgis is working?

6. What does Jurgis learn about his family when he asks around?

7. What is the senator talking about as Jurgis overhears a political meeting?

8. Is Jurgis successful in getting the rest of the family converted to socialism?

9. What is the impassioned speech actually talking about in this chapter?

10. What does Ostrinski tell Jurgis should happen in Chicago?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Survival of the fittest seems to be an overarching theme of this novel. Those who struggle to survive are often doomed to fail, while those who persevere still don't get all they want. Choose three character from the story and describe how they struggled to survive. What was the outcome? Who were the fittest in the story? Why did you choose these characters?

Essay Topic 2

The depressing surroundings are horrendous to live in as the family begins to find work in Chicago. Describe this setting and why it's so deplorable. How does the house affect the family? What are some things that occur as a result of the living conditions? Should this house have been inhabited by people? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The character of Jurgis is the main character of the story, but what does he represent in a larger sense? What are some characteristics that make him easy for a reader to relate to? Why did he leave his homeland to come to the United States? Was this a good idea? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 586 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample