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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. During what war does the story take place?

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

3. In what direction is the man looking?

4. What is the source of the sound that the condemned man hears?

5. What do the men in the infantry do while waiting for the execution?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Peyton think has happened when everything goes cold and dark?

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

3. What are Peyton and his wife doing at the beginning of Part 2?

4. What idea does the soldier offer up on how a person could accomplish something regarding the destruction of the bridge?

5. How does Peyton reveal that he is thinking of violating the posted notice in order to help the Southern cause?

6. Describe what Peyton feels immediately after falling through the bridge.

7. What questions does the author plant in the reader's mind about why Peyton was selected for the encounter with the Federal scout?

8. What is the planter's name and where does he live?

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

10. What is noted about the man's position and posture?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Describe some of the settings for the story. What is the overall setting? Be sure to include geography, time period and any pertinent popular culture events. Why did Bierce choose to use these places in the story?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the overall setting for the story. Why does Bierce 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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 690 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample