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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. Who visits Alexander Kirkpatrick's wife in jail?

2. How much money does Silas's nephew offer the slave for sex?

3. What must Alexander Kirkpatrick do if he wants to be pardoned from serving jail?

4. What does Silas do for a living?

5. How do Alexander Kirkpatrick and his wife get to the jail after being sentenced?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Jesse's new job in Part III, Chapter 31, at the hospital?

2. Why does Jesse keep trying to run away from the Stratford Plantation?

3. What happens to Alexander during his first time in battle?

4. What happens to Uther Botkin's wife, Martha?

5. While attending church, what does Opal beg Jack to do for her?

6. In Part III, Chapter 28, how does Maggie, now known as Marguerite, feel about her life with Silas?

7. Why did Sallie marry Alexander Kirkpatrick in a hasty marriage?

8. Why is Alexander called into the office of the acting keeping at the penitentiary in Part II, Chapter 18?

9. What happens the third time that Jesse tries to run away from the Stratford Plantation?

10. While Sallie is working at the hospital, what does a young soldier ask Sallie to do for him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Cousin Molly is an interesting character in that she seems to be clinging to the past that no longer exists. She becomes very important in Sallie's life and therefore an important character in the story. Analyze the character of Cousin Molly and her effect on Sallie. How does Molly meet Sallie? Why does Molly want to help Sallie? How does Molly use her humor to help get Sallie to trust her? What kind of person is Molly? How does Molly become a lifeline for Sallie during her prison sentence?

Essay Topic 2

Jesse is one of the main characters in "Jacob's Ladder" and is a slave of Samuel Gatewood's. He has been trying to find Maggie ever since she was sold. Analyze the character of Jesse and his importance in the story. Why does Jesse keep trying to run away? How is Jesse treated as a slave? How does Jesse feel about the war? What kind of person is Jesse? How has Jesse affected Maggie?

Essay Topic 3

Many of the characters in "Jacob's Ladder" have been going through tremendous changes in their lives since the war has begun. Explore the theme of coming of age, and analyze the changes in the different characters.

Part A) What does coming of age mean?

Part B) How can a catastrophic event like the Civil War cause tremendous changes in people?

Part C) How have some of the characters ideals and goals changed? What have the characters learned about themselves and life?

(see the answer keys)

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