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. What do Jack and Jurgis do together once they're out of jail?

2. What does Jurgis find out Marija is doing?

3. Who helps Jurgis find a job?

4. Where does Jurgis go after being in the country?

5. Besides his son, what does Jurgis enjoy in his life now?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jurgis have complete faith in by the end of the story?

2. Overcome with grief after Ona's death, what does Jurgis do to soothe his sorrows?

3. Who is the visitor Jurgis gets in jail?

4. What is the stroke of luck that Jurgis happens upon?

5. Why was Jurgis released from prison later than he thought would be?

6. What does Jurgis learn about Marija's whereabouts?

7. After the speech is over, what does Jurgis do?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

If you were in Jurgis and Ona's financial position, would you have still held a veselija? Why or why not? Why do you think they still had this traditional reception even though they couldn't afford it? Do you think it was fair for them to have to go into debt for this gathering? Why or why not? Was this the beginning of their troubles?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

In the end, Jurgis is left with no one. What does this say about the American dream? What do you think will happen to Jurgis next? Do you think his future will be a happy one? Why or why not? Do you think the ending is a happy one? 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