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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. About what is Bethia increasingly frustrated?

2. What does Caleb's reading of Hebrew bring to Bethia's mind?

3. What does Tequamuck fail to do?

4. Who berates Bathia for her absence when she returns to the beach?

5. What does Caleb say often change with his people?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Mayfield act in the aftermath of Solace's death?

2. What happens that evening after Caleb ends his friendship with Bethia that makes Bethia believe she contributes to her mother's death?

3. How does Bethia come to believe she needs to watch her father preach?

4. When and how does Bethia's father introduce Caleb to the White settlement?

5. What does Bethia say about the influence of Cambridge on Caleb?

6. What happens when Bethia returns to where the Wampanoag are dancing?

7. What does Caleb think of Bethia's name and how does he express his feelings about it?

8. What does Bethia say is the reason for the tension between her father and Makepeace, and why is it strange that they are upset with each other?

9. How does Bethia feel about Solace?

10. What does Bethia say about the situations in her family's life at this time?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an important part of what makes Caleb's Crossing interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Caleb. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Bethia. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Pastor Mayfield. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Caleb's Crossing belongs to the historical novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the historical novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a historical novel and a fantasy?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in Caleb's Crossing. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of culture and religion in Caleb's Crossing. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to be able to meld their culture and their religion? What about how religion influences culture?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death in Caleb's Crossing. What types of deaths besides physical are portrayed in Caleb's Crossing? How does death change the lives of the characters, especially Bethia?

4. Trace and analyze the theme of sin and redemption in Caleb's Crossing. Who believes sin is real? Who does not? How does sin in a character's beliefs coincide with guilt? What characters considers herself/himself sinful?

(see the answer keys)

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