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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. How does Francis react when he finds Mason's still on the farm?

2. Where does Francis drown Bishop?

3. When "The Violent Bear it Away" opens, how long has Mason Tarwater been dead?

4. Why did Mason try to kidnap Reyber's son, Bishop?

5. What type of bushes completely overtook Mason's house and yard?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did George Rayber come to live with his uncle, Mason?

2. What event at the science museum jars Rayber into remembering his own religious childhood?

3. What is Francis' reaction when he figures out that Rayber has followed him to the religious revival?

4. How does Francis prove his difficult nature to Rayber after moving in with him?

5. How did George Rayber go deaf?

6. How does Bishop die?

7. What events lead up to Francis vomiting in a lake?

8. How does Francis rebel against Mason after his death?

9. Why does Rayber agree to take Francis in and take care of him?

10. Who is Francis' "stranger" who is later referred to as his "friend"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the story "The Lame Shall Enter First," Rufus Johnson is a child with a rough upbringing. First, describe Rufus' childhood and the effect these circumstances had on his personality. Then, describe the way Rufus survives in his day-to-day life. What "sins" does he commit on a regular basis? Finally, explain Rufus' moral justification for the sins he commits. What statement about religion and religious text do you think Flannery O'Connor is making through Rufus' character and interpretation of the Bible? Be sure to include examples from the text that you think help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

In the 1960's, the South was completely torn apart into the old and the new with the new desegregation and anti-discrimination laws that transformed the land. How do you see these laws depicted in the story "Everything that Rises Must Converge"? How do Julian and his mother represent the old and new South in the story? What do Julian and his mother fight about most regularly? How do these clashes between Julian and his mother mimic the greater conflicts in Southern society? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

Many of the characters in the story "Wise Blood" have extreme relationships with religion, and religion is easily corrupted by the characters of this story. First, describe the type of religion Motes grew up with as a child. Then, compare / contrast that religion to the religion he started as an adult. Then, choose one character whose life benefited from extreme religion and compare / contrast their relationship with religion to a character whose life was harmed due to extreme religion. In the end, what message do you think O'Connor was sending to her audience about religion? How can you tell? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

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This section contains 1,173 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample