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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 is the train raided in Poughkepsie?

2. What does Uncle Al reveal about August to Jacob?

3. Who is having a party in Chapter 10?

4. What does Uncle Al want Rosie to do?

5. Who does Jacob see beating a stampeding Rosie?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jacob use to pay the doctor?

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

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

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

5. What does Jacob discover about Rosie?

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

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

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

9. Why is the train raided in Poughkeepsie?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 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 Marlena. Who is Marlena? Why is Marlena with the circus? Why did Marlena marry August? Does Marlena love August? Why or why not? How does Marlena feel about Jacob? How does she show this? Why does Marlena choose Jacob over August? What does Marlena hope to get from Jacob?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 733 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample