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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 does August want Jacob to tell him?

2. Why does Jacob agree to sit at his old table?

3. What has caused this illness?

4. What does Jacob do that causes Marlena to leave him alone in an alley?

5. What has Uncle Al failed to buy for his new workers?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jacob discover about Rosie?

2. What happens when Jacob goes into Chicago with August and Marlena?

3. How does August react to Marlena's surprise?

4. What does Jacob use to pay the doctor?

5. Who becomes ill, forcing Jacob to examine him?

6. What does elderly Jacob learn about Rosemary that upsets him?

7. What happens when Rosie is forced to participate in the Grand Spec before she is prepared?

8. What is stolen several days in a row?

9. What happens when Jacob has too much to drink?

10. How does August react to Marlena's injuries?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Jacob's family. How does the death of Jacob's parents influence his decision to join the circus as a young man? How does the fact that his son forgot it was his day to visit influence Jacob into joining the circus the second time? What does Jacob's choice say about his state of mind? What do these choices say about Jacob's feelings toward his family, both as a young man and an old man?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss August. Who is August? What kind of person is August? What does August do to cause Jacob to fear him? What does Jacob learn about August that helps him understand August's odd behavior? What does August do to Rosie? How does Rosie respond?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss setting. What is the setting of this novel? How does the setting of this novel directly affect the actions and behaviors of the characters? What is most significant about the setting in this novel? Why do you think the author chose this setting for her novel? Would the novel's plot work if the setting had been different, such as set in the future or the more immediate past? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 844 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample