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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 Jim's grandfather bring home for him after visiting the Shimerdas on Christmas?

2. Who sponsors the dance tent in Black Hawk?

3. How does Antonia react to the dances in town?

4. Why does Anton Jelinek believe the Shimerdas are not concerned about having a priest perform Mr. Shimerda's funeral?

5. What gift do Jim's grandparents give him when he comes to live with them?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Jim like the Shimerdas as they both travel to Nebraska?

2. Describe the Shimerda family (as they are introduced in Chapter 3)

3. Describe Jim's experiences when he is housebound due to illness

4. Compare and contrast the town and city girls (from Jim's point of view).

5. How does Mrs. Shimerda act when she and Antonia visit the Burdens after the thaw? How does Jim respond to her?

6. Retell the story Antonia shares with Jim and the Harlings about the tramp and the thresher

7. How does Antonia predict the winter will affect her family differently than Jim's?

8. Describe Jim's encounter with the rattlesnake as he and Antonia return from Russian Peter's

9. What is significant about January 22 in this novel?

10. How do the Shimerdas react when the Burdens bring them supplies during the cold winter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

My Antonia is primarily a first person narrative written from the point of view of Jim. Discuss how this fact influences the story. What biases does Jim bring to the story? How would the novel be different if another character was telling the story? Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Death plays an important role in this novel. Write an essay:

1) describing the ways death is portrayed in the novel

2) examining the significance of death in the plot and character development

3) arguing what you believe the author is trying to say about mortality through the novel.

Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

One of the themes My Antonia explores is perseverance. Discuss what the novel has to say about this theme. Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

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