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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 or what does the unnamed man refuse to get for the woman in labor?

2. What job does Culla perform for the person in #52?

3. What food is turning green from mold?

4. What is another name for the person in #19?

5. In what town does Culla look for work?

Short Essay Questions

1. What haunting experience does Culla have the next morning?

2. How does McCarthy introduce Culla and what are the circumstances of him and his sister?

3. What reason does Culla give the old man for why he needs to move on?

4. What haunting experience does Culla have the next morning?

5. What does the brother do with the newborn baby?

6. What does the bearded man accuse Culla of and what does the bearded man do to the baby?

7. Describe the family that Rinthy meets after she has been walking for awhile.

8. What medical help does the doctor provide to Rinthy?

9. What commotion does Culla experience when he reaches the town of Cheatham?

10. What fact will be unknown to the brother or his sister who delivered the baby?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the overall setting for the novel. Why does McCarthy 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

OUTER DARK is written in the Southern Gothic style. What does that classification entail? Why does this novel fit into this category? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

McCarthy does not identify Culla and Rinthy by name until the story has progressed for awhile. Why does McCarthy leave them nameless for awhile? What is he trying to say about their situation by leaving them nameless?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 872 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample