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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 was the general opinion of Miss Ophelia in the St. Clare household?

2. When Eva is alone in her room, why does Eva cut her hair?

3. At the conclusion of Chapter 41, whose suffering from being beaten does Quimbo and Sambo witness?

4. After they get the letter from Tom, what does Aunt Chloe ask Mrs. Shelby to write for her?

5. Because of Legree's superstitious nature, who is the unlikely person that he fears?

Short Essay Questions

1. As the loose ends of the story are tied up in Chapter 44, what is the purpose of Chapter 45, the final chapter?

2. What does the death of Augustine emphasize about the lives and futures of their slaves?

3. Why is Cassy a key character in through whom Stowe explores Simon Legree's temperament and treatment of slaves?

4. What is Mr. Shelby's objection to Mrs. Shelby having taught religion to the slaves?

5. What are the similarities between Aunt Chloe And Mrs. Shelby which are emphasized?

6. What purpose does Augustine St. Clare's defense of slavery serve to the reader?

7. Why might Stowe have had the significant black characters who are now free end up going to Africa to do missionary work?

8. What is the ironic about Emmeline's being brought up "by the Bible?"

9. What happens in Chapter 38 where Tom is left along often that actually foreshadows Tom's death?

10. With all the happy endings in the book, why might Stowe have chosen to have Tom, the most beloved character, beat to death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are several characters in Uncle Tom's Cabin who exemplify courage; conversely, there are several who exemplify cowardice. Identify these characters as their depiction of courage or cowardice. Then specifically refer to what actions or words of theirs come to embody these qualities and define courage and cowardice.

Essay Topic 2

Religion is a motif in Uncle Tom's Cabin. Several characters have very different opinions the value of religion in one's life. Compare or contrast the religious view of three of the following characters:

Uncle Tom

Eliza

George Harris

Rachel Halliday

Augustine St. Clare

Simon Legree

Essay Topic 3

In keeping with a literary style of her time, Harriet Beecher Stowe speaks frequently and at length directly to the reader. Choose from several instances of direct address in the chapters listed below and use them to defend or praise this stylistic device:

Chapter 12--when the author asks the reader to condemn Mr. Haley is aboard a ship for New Orleans and he discusses slavery.

Chapter 37--when the author asks the reader to imagine what George feels like when he is so close to being free.

Chapter 38--when the author asks the reader to imagine what it feels like for Tom to know he is dying.

Chapter 45--when the author uses the whole chapter to "talk" to reader about what the country must do to abolish slavery.

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