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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. Someone whispers to Jurgis as he falls asleep during another political meeting. What word does the stranger whisper?

2. Where does Jurgis decide to begin volunteering?

3. What are men all over joining in order to change their lives?

4. What is the family focused on in their life right now?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the midwife described to the reader?

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

3. What happens to Jurgis' $100?

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

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

6. What does Jurgis decide to do when he can not find any work?

7. What caused little Antanas' death?

8. What is the first crime Jack Duane and Jurgis commit?

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

10. Where does the drunk young man take Jurgis?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

The narrator of the story is Sinclair himself, which gives the story a different tone than most other novels. That said, how do you think Sinclair's narration has affected the story? What does this story say about Sinclair? Do you think the story could have been told more truthfully by Jurgis? What would have happened if the story had been told from the meat packer manager's point of view?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 573 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample