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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. How does Silas react after learning that his nephew had sex with a slave?

2. Why does a judge sentence Alexander Kirkpatrick and his wife to jail?

3. Why does the surgeon in Part III, Chapter 28, insist that all the Union soldiers be taken to another surgeon for the rest of the evening?

4. What is the name of Silas's nephew?

5. Why is Samuel Gatewood's slave trying to run away?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What happens at the military institute, where Duncan is present to hear a speech, which causes a fight?

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

5. What does Ellam Omohundru do with Maggie in Part I, Chapter 10?

6. Why is the woman at the beginning of Part I, Chapter 1, traveling the countryside?

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

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

9. What does the judge sentence Sallie and Alexander to for being abolitionists?

10. How do Rufus and Jesse escape Stratford Plantation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Marguerite tells many stories of several different characters throughout the story. This is a literary device that writers use called a story-within-a-story. Explore the author's use of the literary device story-within-a-story in the novel "Jacob's Ladder". Is the author using stories-within-a-story to give it a more historical feel? Or is the author using stories-within-a-story to give background about particular characters or events? How is this literary device effective in the novel "Jacob's Ladder"?

Essay Topic 2

Silas Omohundru has a certain view about how slaves should be treated that is comparable to Samuel Gatewood's view. Compare Silas Omohundru to Samuel Gatewood, analyzing how each treats slaves and each one's view on slavery in general. Who cares more about how slaves are actually treated in relation to their feelings? Does Samuel think of slaves as actual human beings with feelings? Why? How does Silas's treatment of his slaves compare to Samuel's?

Essay Topic 3

Miss Marguerite is the narrator and one of the main characters in "Jacob's Ladder: A Story of Virginia During the War". Analyze the character of Miss Marguerite throughout her different name changes in her life: Midge, Maggie, and Marguerite. How did Marguerite change with each name? How does this influence the overall story? Where is Midge from, and where does she live? Who owns Midge? What is different about Midge's race from that of other slaves?

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