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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 Jacob discover when he returns to his room?

2. Why does Marlena refuse to leave with Jacob immediately?

3. What does Uncle Al want Jacob to do?

4. Why do Jacob and Marlena decide not to run away?

5. Who is Jacob told has become ill?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is stolen several days in a row?

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

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

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

6. What does Jacob use to pay the doctor?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss independence as a theme of the novel. What is independence? How does Jacob feel his independence has been taken from him? Is Jacob right in thinking this? Should a man Jacob's age have more independence or less? Why? Should Jacob be allowed to care for himself and make his own choices? If not, who should have this responsibility? Why?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Discuss the death of Jacob's parents. How does this death affect Jacob? What does Jacob's parents leave their son after their deaths? How do the deaths of his parents leave Jacob's future plans irrevocably changed? Why does Jacob react to these deaths by boarding a circus train?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 891 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample