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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 literary device is found in the following sentence from Chapter 8? "The boots' brown tongues lolled, a pair of panting dogs" (183).

2. What kind of tree does Thatcher associate with Polly?

3. What is Willa writing an article about in Chapter 3?

4. In what month does Chapter 2 take place?

5. Where does Selma's father go in order to buy alcohol?

Short Essay Questions

1. What renovations/repairs are being made to Willa's home in Chapter 3? Why?

2. Why does Willa go to the Historical Society in Chapter 7?

3. Why does Willa face conflict in taking Nick to the doctor in Chapter 5?

4. How is the setting of Batsto described in Chapter 8?

5. How do Mary and Thatcher reach the Pine Barrens in Chapter 8? How is this setting described?

6. When and where is Thatcher's story primarily set? How is this established?

7. How would you describe Nick's personality?

8. What is revealed in the conversation between Willa and Iano in the evening after Gwen's visit in Chapter 9?

9. How do Thatcher and Rose's childhoods and upbringing differ?

10. How would you describe the relationship between Tig and Zeke?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the references and allusions to contemporary politics, media, and pop culture in Unsheltered. Based on the political events described in the contemporary timeline, when does Willa's story begin? How does Willa feel about the political landscape in which she lives? How do you relate to Willa's thoughts on this regard?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and analyze the plot structure of Unsheltered. Where does the rising action begin? Where does the climax occur? Given the two storylines in the book, how does this impact its plot structure?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of class differences in Unsheltered. How is class demonstrated in the different timelines of the novel? How does one's class or station influence the character's actions in the narrative? Which characters stand in stark difference in relation to class? How does this create conflict?

(see the answer keys)

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