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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 store does Hattie stop at in town?

2. Why does Karl come over to Hattie's home late one night?

3. What sound breaks into Hattie's thoughts as she is walking home?

4. What does Hattie's next installment to the newspaper describe?

5. What does Hattie have Chase doing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What has Hattie been doing at night to fight the heat?

2. What happens after Hattie and the others who are threshing see big, black clouds rolling in?

3. What happens to Elmer Ren while Hattie and Leafie are visiting?

4. What epidemic strikes the area where Hattie lives and what does Leafie do?

5. How does Hattie help Mr. Ebgard?

6. How does Hattie have to go into more debt because of the savings stamp drive?

7. Why does Traft say about the fire in Hattie's barn when he comes by to see her after the July 4th picnic?

8. How does Rooster Jim end up on top of a hay bale?

9. What do they have to do with the new baby since she is premature?

10. What are Hattie and Perilee working on as Perilee waits to deliver her baby, and what does Perilee promise?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in "Hattie Big Sky".

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of the story. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of the novel. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 2

Over the course of "Hattie Big Sky", Hattie grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. "Hattie Big Sky" might be considered a slice of Hattie's larger story of her "coming of age." It might be said that "Hattie Big Sky" is a "bildungsroman" of the narrator. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze Hattie as she changes from a naive, innocent girl to a wiser, young woman. What are the significant events that change her?

3. After thoroughly analyzing the narrator's growth throughout the novel, do you think "Hattie Big Sky" could be considered Hattie's coming of age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in "Hattie Big Sky" who go through a coming of age experience? Who? Why do you think so? (Perhaps Charlie?)

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of "Hattie Big Sky", identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement.) Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in "Hattie Big Sky". (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot.) Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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