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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 comment by Noah catches Bethia's attention?

2. Who is Noah Merry?

3. Why is Bethia uneasy when she is serving the noon meal?

4. How does Bethia address the woman who waits on her and her father?

5. Where does Bethia accompany her father?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Bethia's sister Solace?

2. What does Bethia say about Caleb in this first section?

3. What does Bethia do that she attributes to Satan's influence and what are the consequences?

4. Who establishes the colony where Bethia lives and whom does Bethia feel has been wronged?

5. What does Bethia say about her two brothers and what her father says about females?

6. Where do Bethia's father and grandfather invite Bethia along and what is the purpose of their visit?

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

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

9. Why does Bethia work so hard on her chores?

10. How does Bethia feel about Solace?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

An important symbolic element is the treatment of the whale, which can clearly be seen as a metaphor for the (exploitation? spiritual gutting?) of natives by whites that takes place throughout the novel. It might not be going too far, in fact, to suggest that the treatment of the whale is a metaphorical foreshadowing of how Caleb, Joel, and perhaps even Bethia herself, are treated by the white, educated, Christian men whose attitudes and beliefs define their lives. Granted, there are white people (Pastor Mayfield, the soon to be introduced Merry family) who treat the natives they encounter with a degree of respect. But the book clearly portrays these people and their views/actions as in the minority, perhaps as an overall authorial commentary on how white imperialist and/or capitalist Christianity overwhelmed goodwill and humanism on a number of levels.

1. Discuss the whale in view of the above statement, using your own thoughts and words. Use examples from your life and Caleb's Crossing to support your answer.

2. Discuss the concept of prejudice in light of the above statement. Include in your discussion thoughts on prejudice in present America. Use examples from your life and Caleb's Crossing to support your answer.

3. Discuss what you think is made by the statement: The book clearly portrays these people and their views/actions as in the minority, perhaps as an overall authorial commentary on how white imperialist and/or capitalist Christianity overwhelmed goodwill and humanism on a number of levels. Use examples from your life and Caleb's Crossing to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss Caleb's Crossing based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Caleb's Crossing is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider Caleb's Crossing a successful novel? What about young teens?

Essay Topic 3

Caleb's actions in Chapter 7 can clearly be seen as an important component of his overall journey and intention - to be as fully native a man as he can within the context of being as fully Christian a man as he can. The former is his identity, the latter is the filter through which that identity can function to the benefit of his people. In other words, Caleb's choices and his reactions to those choices are clear manifestations of the work's thematic interest in the struggles faced by individuals to define individual identity; in particular, finding the balance between what internal drives dictate and what external circumstances demand.

1. Discuss, in depth, the conflict between Caleb's native culture and the Christian religion. Use examples from your life and Caleb's Crossing to support your answer.

2. How do you think Caleb's choices and his reactions portrays the them of identity? Use examples from your life and Caleb's Crossing to support your answer.

3. Do you think the balance between internal drives and external circumstances is universal to the human race? Why or why not? Use examples from your life and Caleb's Crossing to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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