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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. Why does August give Marlena a black eye?

2. Where does young Jacob take Marlena the morning after their fights with August?

3. Why is the train raided in Poughkepsie?

4. What does Marlena injure jumping out of Rosie's way?

5. What does Jacob beg Marlena not to do?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What surprise does Marlena arrange for August after Rosie's first successful show?

3. What does Uncle Al use to increase ticket sales?

4. How does Jacob convince Uncle Al to keep August from Marlena?

5. What warning does Jacob receive that something might happen during the show that night?

6. What is rumored to be wrong with the elephant?

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

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

9. What happens after Jacob and Marlena escape the club?

10. What does Jacob use to pay the doctor?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Kinko? Why does Kinko dislike Jacob in the beginning? Why is Kinko so distrusting of people? How does Kinko's stature affect his attitude toward the world in general? Toward Jacob in particular? What changes Kinko's opinion of Jacob? Why?

Essay Topic 2

What causes the stampede at the end of the novel? Is the stampede begun intentionally? How does Uncle Al die? Did this happen because of the stampede? Why is no one ever punished for Uncle Al's death? How are the stampede and the deaths of Uncle Al and August an example of circus life? Are these good examples? Would these deaths have occurred in another job or situation? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Why does Jacob decide to join the circus as a young man? Why does Jacob again choose to join the circus as an old man? What does Jacob, both young and old, hope to achieve by joining the circus? What does the circus mean to Jacob? Is joining the circus as an old man only about nostalgia? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 792 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample