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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 Oreline say Philomene owes Oreline?

2. Who does Elisabeth encounter one day and feed him leftovers?

3. Why does Joseph move Emily to a house that is isolated on a tract of land?

4. What is the result of Oreline and Philomene being left alone on the farm?

5. Who does Joseph think has cheated him?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 31, what does Joseph request from Philomene concerning Emily?

2. Why does Philomene send Bet to Joseph's store where Emily is working?

3. What do the Union armies start doing, and what is Philomene's response?

4. What does Emily admit to Bet about Emily's feelings concerning Elisabeth?

5. What does Philomene name her daughter by Narcisse, and what does she say about the daughter?

6. What does Narcisse tell Oreline has to be done after Ferrier's death concerning the slaves and what does she decide about Clement?

7. Describe Elisabeth's encounter with a census taker.

8. In Chapter 31, what does narration say about Joseph's life so far?

9. Who becomes ill in Chapter 18, and who takes care of them?

10. What is Philomene's vision when she is ill in Chapter 18?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

Analyze and discuss what you think are the characteristics of a successful novel and why Cane River is or is not a successful novel based on your criteria. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults?

Essay Topic 2

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than an action-driven plot, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

What do you think it means to say that a plot is character-driven or action-driven? Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why? Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character are developed to the same degree? Why or why not? What type of plot do you think Cane River is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

Compare/contrast the characters of Philomene and Suzette. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples. Compare/contrast the characters of Eugene and Narcisse. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

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