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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 signal does the captain give to the sergeant?

2. The man in the noose stands at one end of the plank and __________________ stands at the other.

3. When it is time for the execution, who moves away from the location first?

4. The sergeant salutes the captain and ____________________.

5. What does the captain do after giving the signal to the sergeant?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Peyton not enlist in the Confederate army?

2. Who does Peyton see coming to meet him and how does he respond?

3. What does Peyton experience when the rope is finally removed from his neck?

4. What does the condemned man view as his only chance at escape?

5. What do Peyton and the soldier do as Mrs. Farquhar gets the glass of water?

6. How does the soldier take his leave from the Farquhar home?

7. How does the author use one word to indicate Mrs. Farquhar's devotion to the Confederate cause?

8. What other characters appear at the scene with the condemned man?

9. Who s present as spectators of the event and how do they conduct themselves?

10. What is the unwritten rule guiding the soldiers in their demeanor at the execution?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a brief character study of Peyton Farquhar. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him--if anything--at this point in his life?

Essay Topic 2

Note the shifts in point of view in the story, sometimes even within the same part. Cite at least two examples of the shift in point of view and support your answers with reasons the author chose to write the story in this way.

Essay Topic 3

Bierce uses more than one instance of irony in the book. Cite at least two examples you can identify in the story and note why they are examples of irony.

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This section contains 778 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample