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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. Who does Jacob want to see?

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

3. How does Uncle Al use this death to increase ticket sales?

4. What compromise does August come up with for Rosie?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Uncle Al want young Jacob to do in the aftermath of Marlena's choice to leave August?

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

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

5. Why is the train raided in Poughkeepsie?

6. What does Jacob discover about Rosie?

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

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

9. What is stolen several days in a row?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss young Jacob. Why does Jacob jump the circus train? Did Jacob know it was a circus train? Was Jacob looking for a job with the circus? What is Jacob looking for at the circus? Does he find it? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

What is jake? Why does Camel drink jake rather than good alcohol? How does the setting of the novel affect Camel's decision to drink jake? What is the ultimate result of Camel's decision to drink jake? Is this ailment Camel's fault as the doctor appears to believe? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Prohibition. What is Prohibition? Why was it enacted? How does it affect the common man? How does pPohibition play a role in this novel? Who is directly affected by Prohibition? Who is indirectly affected? Why do you think the author chose to set her novel during prohibition? How would the novel be different if the author had set the story in a different era? Whose life would have been different? Why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 775 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample