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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 would Marguerite have learned to do at the convent if she had remained another year?

2. What date does Ira Sargent tell Marguerite it will be the day after she has visited Debby's grave?

3. In part 3, who keeps watch through the night while the men go to check on the fire at Sargent's Point?

4. At the end of part 3, what is the first word Debby clearly speaks?

5. In part 3, what gift did Ethan bring his father that causes joy for Marguerite?

Short Essay Questions

1. What quilt does Aunt Hespa give to Marguerite to complete? For what purpose?

2. How is Joel Sargent injured in Part 4? How bad is the injury?

3. Why does Ira take Marguerite on his first visit to see Abby Welles after the long winter? What does Abby give to Marguerite?

4. What arrives in the channel to cause a great deal of excitement on Sargent's Point? What do they want?

5. What offer does Joel Sargent make to Marguerite at the end of the novel?

6. What condition is the dog in when he makes his way back to house after the Indian attack the night of the corn shelling?

7. Marguerite sees smoke at Sargent's Point when she goes to sit before the window after being criticized for her dance. Who does she tell? What do they do?

8. Why does Dolly refuse to allow Marguerite to go to Sunday Island to get help? Why does their signal of a white sheet fail to gain notice?

9. After the Maypole begins to fall apart at the end of Part 4, how does Marguerite finally make the Indians leave Sargent's Point?

10. Why does Marguerite think that Ira Sargent has grown sullen? What does she do about it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following in detail as it appears in and impacts the plot of the novel, citing examples from the novel to support your conclusions:

1) Symbolism

2) Irony

3) Metaphor

Essay Topic 2

Why is Marguerite saddened that the Sargents do not celebrate Christmas? Why don't they celebrate Christmas? How does Marguerite have her own private celebration? What does she do? Where does she do it? What does she think about as she celebrates? What gifts does she want to give to the children? Who does she run into during her private celebration? What does this person tell her? How does Marguerite feel about meeting this person? What does she give him? Why does she not tell anyone about this encounter?

Essay Topic 3

Who is Ethan Jordan? Who has he been courting since before the arrival of the Sargents? How does the arrival of the Jordans change Ethan's romantic intentions? How does Ethan react to this change? What does this say about Ethan? About the time period in which the novel is set? Who is Seth Jordan? What warning does he give the Sargents upon their initial arrival in the channel? What does Seth think of their refusal to listen to his advice? What does Seth do to help or hinder the Sargents? Why does he do this?

(see the answer keys)

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