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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 does the person in #100 want Helen to do about Milton?

2. Where do Milton and Dolly spend the night when Helen is out of town?

3. What does Carey try to talk to Milton about in the roadhouse?

4. In what city is Peyton married?

5. Where do Carey and Helen meet the hearse on the way to the cemetery?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the author show that Milton has inappropriate feelings for Peyton?

2. What is the nature of Christmas 1941 in the Loftis household?

3. What comment does Helen make to Carey as they leave for the cemetery which acts as foreshadowing?

4. What trip do Helen and Maudie take in November of 1942?

5. What do Carey and Milton talk about while waiting in the roadhouse for the hearse to be repaired?

6. What does Milton do to embarrass himself at the university football game?

7. Does Helen seek out Carey for her belief in God or something else?

8. What is ironic about La Ruth's outburst on the day of Peyton's funeral?

9. What does Milton remember about the Christmas of 1941?

10. What is the nature of the letter Milton writes to Peyton while Helen and Maudie are out of town?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the overall setting for the novel. Why does Styron use the setting he does? What is the time period of the story? How important is the time period to the attitudes and issues of the characters?

Essay Topic 2

Hate takes on an almost human persona in this story. What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

Essay Topic 3

Even though they are both important in Milton's life, Helen and Dolly are very different. Compare and contrast Helen and Dolly. What similarities do they share? How are they different?

(see the answer keys)

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