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| Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. When Ed finally arrives at the hospital, what happens first?
2. What does Ed believe the unknown shooter's next move will be?
3. What does Lewis tell Ed that he must do if they are to survive the canoe trip?
4. What causes the wound in Ed's side after he shoots the man trying to kill him?
5. What new complication turns one member of the group into a liability after both canoes overturn?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Discuss the importance of the sheriff to the story. How does he differ from the rural Southerners the main characters met during their canoe trip? What about his actions and conversations point out those differences? How does the author use him to symbolize a type of Southerner that is neither the typical suburbanite represented by the main characters nor the rural Southerners who attacked them. Cite other examples of Southerners met briefly on the canoe trip who may fit this third character type.
Essay Topic 2
In the story, Lewis is the leader of the group although his decisions are not always the right ones. When the men search for the Cahulawassee River in order to put their canoes in and begin the journey, Lewis chooses to find the river himself rather than follow men who know the area, which results in his getting the entire group lost. Write a paper in which you discuss at least two of the following points:
1) What qualities make a person a leader?
2) Why is Lewis the leader of this particular group? Do you think he is the best man for the job? Explain your answer.
3) Once the trip is underway, do you think his decisions are good ones? Why or why not?
4) What might happen differently if one of the others is the leader of the group?
Essay Topic 3
While climbing the cliff and preparing to kill the attacker, Ed takes time to admire the awesome view. It is a well known psychological phenomenon that during times of great stress some people become acutely aware of seemingly insignificant things. Choose at least three of the following to discuss:
1) Tell why you think James Dickey chooses to include this phenomenon in his novel and why he does so at this point in the story? What revelation about Ed results from this scene?
2) Do you believe this event adds to the drama of the situation or detracts from it? Explain your answer.
3) If any of the other characters had climbed the cliff to kill their attacker, do you think that character would have stopped and admired the view? Why or why not? Why does the author choose this character to accomplish this task?
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This section contains 602 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) |
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