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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. Who on the Shelby plantation offers first to earn extra money in Chapter 21?

2. In the author's last chapter in which she discusses the sources for her novel, who does she say told Stowe of the story of "old Pru?"

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

4. How effective of a money manager is Augustine St. Clare?

5. When the reader is returned to the story line of George and his family in Chapter 43, where in Canada are they living?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do the physical descriptions of Simon Legree himself and his plantation symbolize his character?

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

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

4. Explain how the following passage is foreshadowing: "the rays of the sun formed a kind of glory behind her [Eva], as she came forward in her white dress, with her golden hair and glowing cheeks, her eyes unnaturally bright..."

5. What is ironic about how and why Augustine St. Clare dies?

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

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

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

9. Why might Simon Legree "secretly dislike" Tom and why was it so important for him to get Tom to whip a person?

10. How does Miss Ophelia's feelings about "training" Topsy reveal what the problem is for people who attempt to control their servants or slaves with violence?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the themes of Uncle Tom's Cabin explores man's inhumanity to his fellow man. Discuss this theme by referring to specific incidents in the novel or relationships that expand on this theme.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the characters that most embody love and why this theme of love is so important to an anti-slavery novel.

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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