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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 is the man doing with his hands?

2. What does the condemned man note about the driftwood in the water below?

3. What does the condemned man want to do as the noise pounds in his head?

4. The remaining plank spans how many railroad ties?

5. Who are the spectators for the execution?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is unexpected about the condemned man's appearance?

3. What does Peyton want to know after the mention of the posted notice?

4. What does the condemned man look at from his position?

5. What is the fourth and final step of the execution?

6. What surprise twist occurs in the plot an hour after the soldier leaves the Farquhar house?

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

8. Describe the clarity of Peyton's senses when he surfaces.

9. What is known about Peyton's allegiance to the Confederate cause?

10. How does the second part of Part 3 begin and how can it be characterized?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is much symbolism in this story regarding the tall black trees. Name two interpretations of what the trees could symbolize and cite reasons for your answers.

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

What is your opinion of Peyton Farquhar? Do you think he was a willful man bent on his own destruction for his own purposes? Or is he someone to be pitied for his misguided sense of loyalty and duty? Or is he someone else entirely? State your position on Peyton and support your answer with rationale.

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