View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does George accomplish that shows he has talent?

2. What does Eliza dream of on the first night that she is taken in and sleeping safely at the new family's house?

3. Which character speaks about slaves in such a way that it is clear that he treats his slaves kindly and has thought a great deal about their humanity?

4. When Phineas and Mr. Halliday are counseling George, What does George have that they are worried about?

5. Where is the boat bound for that Tom boards with Mr. Haley?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the reader know that Mr. Shelby regards his wife's happiness as important?

2. How does the reader know that Eliza trusts Mrs. Shelby?

3. Why is Uncle Tom's loyalty to his master such a subject of harsh criticism and ridicule?

4. What provides the comic relief in Chapter 6?

5. What does the reader learn in Chapters 2 and 3 about Eliza's past as a mother?

6. How might the modern reader interpret Mr. Shelby's plan to be absent from the plantation when Tom is to be taken away?

7. What character says, "don't quote the Bible at me that way," and what does this quotation reveal about his character?

8. What is the significance of John Von Trompe being described as a former "land-holder and slave owner in the state of Kentucky?"

9. What do you think the author's purpose is in having a man help Eliza escape even though he is a friend of Mr. Shelby's?

10. How does Harry's tolerance for being a slave compare or contrast with Eliza's?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Uncle Tom's Cabin, Stowe has her principle black characters return to Africa and do missionary work. Evaluate that "ending" versus having them remain in Canada. What does this ending suggest about her feelings about:

a. racial integration,

b. the eventual abolition of slavery,

c. the contribution of blacks to American society, and

d. the obligation that white Americans had to the slaves that they obtained and exploited?

You may decide to write about three or all four of these topics.

Essay Topic 2

In the world of Uncle Tom's Cabin slavery is legal, escaping a plantation is illegal, being a slave catcher is a job, and as such, it is legal. How does Stowe explore the theme of legality versus morality through what we learn happens on plantations, the consequences of escaping, and the responsibilities slave catching?

Essay Topic 3

Uncle Tom's Cabin, a novel that exposed slavery was written in 1852; the Declaration of Independence written in 1776 declared "all mean are created equal." While the existence of slavery was proof that all men were not created equal, what evidence is there in the novel that all men were, in fact, created equal?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 895 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample