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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. When Mr. Haley becomes agitated during their discussion of slave treatment, what does Mr. Shelby try to calm him with?

2. How does Senator Bird react when his wife objects to the passing of the Fugitive Slave Act?

3. Where is one place where George works?

4. Who is "Mr. Butler?"

5. Who does Mr. Shelby think that Haley speaks of too casually and disrespectfully?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the reader learn that Quakers are anti-slavery?

2. How does the reader know that Eliza trusts Mrs. Shelby?

3. How might the modern reader interpret Mr. Shelby's plan to be absent from the plantation when Tom is to be taken away?

4. How does the reader know that Mr. Shelby regards his wife's happiness as important?

5. What provides the comic relief in Chapter 6?

6. Why do black people in the novel freely use the "n" word?

7. What is the author's purpose in having Sam tell the story of Eliza's escape and Mr. Haley's failed attempts to catch her?

8. What is unusual about Young Master Shelby teaching Tom how to write?

9. What effect has studying the Christian religion had on Eliza?

10. How is the character of Phineas contrasted with that of Halliday?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Imagery is a powerful literary device. How does the imagery in the descriptions of various homes, such as Tom's cabin, the home of the Quaker family, and the Legree plantation serve to extend the characterization of the people who live in these homes?

Essay Topic 2

The subject of religion, specifically Christianity, abounds in Uncle Tom's Cabin. Discuss how Stowe's characterization of Uncle Tom embodied the principles of Christianity--namely that of faith, forgiveness, compassion, and belief in an afterlife. Refer to specific instances from the novel to illustrate these various components of Christianity.

Essay Topic 3

Uncle Tom's Cabin is one of the most enduring American novels of social protest. Evaluate the novel's strength as a tract for social protest by discussing the characterization of Uncle Tom, Eliza and her family of George and Harry, and the slave owners, Mr. Shelby and Simon Legree.

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