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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 signals the Rebels' charge?

2. Who does Jeff meet at Fort Gibson?

3. What is on the other side of the river?

4. The kind of people can use the church?

5. Jeff experiences difficulties with what while riding a horse?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jeff find in the Washbournes' cow lot?

2. Describe what Jeff sees at the hotel at Boggy Depot.

3. Where do Jeff and Jim Bostwick end up on their scout?

4. What is done in the Jackman home to teach the girls good breeding?

5. What is Rebel coffee?

6. How does Jeff survive the long walk back to Fort Gibson?

7. Who is Frank Brandt?

8. How does Fort Gibson get its food?

9. Describe Boggy Depot.

10. What is Jeff's punishment for refusing to participate in the execution?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are many different things that the author uses as recurring tools in the story:

Part 1) What is the importance of the animals that keep occurring in the story and Jeff's obvious connection with them? What is the significance that Jeff's dog lays down to sleep with him after he returns home in the last chapter?

Part 2) There are many different colors used over and over again in the story to draw the readers attention. What colors stand out the most during the story? Why does the author chose to use colors as a literary tool?

Essay Topic 2

Pick one of the following to write about:

Part 1) There are several sub plots in RIFLES FOR WATIE. Pick one of the sub plots that you believe could have been eliminated completely and why it did not add, or added very little, to the story.

Part 2) Pick one of the sub plots from RIFLES FOR WATIE that could have been made into a complete story on its own. Explain your reasoning.

Part 3) Explain what the tone of the story is and how the author chose to create this tone.

Essay Topic 3

Part 1) Why did the author choose to write the story in past tense? What does it convey to the author?

Part 2) Why does the author reveal at the end of the story that Jeff will sleep on the ground for many years to come but not answer the question of whether he will be able to find Lucy?

Part 3) Would it have been as effective to write the story in present tense?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 910 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample