2. Each of the people in Nordstrom's life has his own views about Nordstrom's mid-life crisis. Are any of them able to convince him to change his plans?

3. They stop for the night at a homesteader's home where Samuel does what?

4. What does the company plan for Nordstrom's leaving?

5. What does Tristan's ship, as its captain, escape?

Short Essay Questions

1. What takes place at the meeting between Nordstrom, Sarah, and Slats?

2. Why does Ludlow send One Stab to Helena?

3. How does Alfred feel about Susannah? Does she feel the same in return?

4. How does a woman end up with Samuel's gold pocket watch?

5. What does Nordstrom do with his money?

6. What does Phillip discuss philosophically that seems to upset Nordstrom?

7. What does Tristan do when Susannah says she plans on killing herself? How does this affect her?

8. What takes place directly after Sonia's graduation?

9. What does Nordstrom discuss with his psychiatrist?

10. What does Tristan do during the six years he spends at sea?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Susannah commits suicide.

Part 1) Why does she commit suicide? What foreshadows her suicide? Could her suicide have been prevented? Why or why not?

Part 2) What role does Tristan play in Susannah's suicide? How could he have acted differently to possibly prevent this act?

Part 3) How does Tristan learn of Susannah's death? Why does he learn about it in this way? What does this reveal about Alfred?

Part 4) How does her death affect the other characters and the plot of the story? How might the story have ended if she had not died? Use the text to support your response.

Essay Topic 2

Susannah and Tristan make destructive decisions.

Part 1) What destructive decisions do each of them make? Why do they make these decisions? What do these decisions reveal about each of these characters?

Part 2) How do events previously mentioned in this story affect the decisions made by Susannah and Tristan?

Part 3) How do these decisions affect the outcome of this story? How do the decisions made by each of these characters affect the other character?

Essay Topic 3

Tristan's response to Samuel's death is surprising.

Part 1) How does Tristan react? Why might he react this way?

Part 2) How do others treat him, because of his reaction? Why?

Part 3) How does Tristan's reaction and feelings about Samuel's death affect him throughout the rest of his life? How does his behavior affect those around him?

(see the answer keys)

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