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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. Where is Jonas living in Chapter Twenty-six?

2. What is the name of the German captive who Eli spent time with?

3. When did the American Civil War end?

4. What is the date of Peter’s first diary entry in Chapter Thirty-nine?

5. Who is the cook at the McCullough ranch in Chapter Twenty-four?

Short Essay Questions

1. What events and circumstances lead Eli to the cattle industry in Chapter Fifty-five?

2. What does Eli gain from the raid in Chapter Fifty-two? What do the Indians gain?

3. How does the author illustrate Jeanne’s political connections in Chapter Thirty-five?

4. Discuss Eli’s views of slavery in the novel. How are these views illustrated when he joins the Civil War efforts?

5. How does Jeanne come to be knocked unconscious in Chapter Sixty-nine?

6. How is Jeanne affected by Hank’s death in the novel?

7. How is the character of Ulises Garcia introduced in Chapter Fifty-seven? What is Ulises’s objective?

8. How does the relationship between Eli and Ellen develop in Chapters Thirty-three through Thirty-seven?

9. How does Prairie Flower die in Chapter Twenty-eight?

10. What circumstances lead to Peter’s isolation on the ranch in Chapter Twenty-four?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the character of Toshaway in the novel. How old is Toshaway when his character is introduced? What is Toshaway’s position within his tribe? How large is Toshaway’s band of Comanche? How would you describe Toshaway’s relationship with Eli McCullough?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the nonlinear structure of The Son and the differing narrative styles established in the novel. How does the language style of each of the narrators differ? Does the narrative style reflect the time periods in which the story takes place? Why do you think the author chose to structure the novel in this way?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of “history versus reality” in The Son. How reliable are the narrators of the story? Do you believe that each of the narrators is relating direct truth? Why or why not? How does “history” from the books differ from the realities of the past? How are these differences highlighted in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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