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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What do Henry and Charles Bon do during the war?
(a) Finish their degrees.
(b) Start a trading company.
(c) Live at Sutpen's Hundred.
(d) Join the military company that forms at their university.

2. Which three characters have speaking roles in Chapter 1?
(a) Thompas Sutpen, Quentin Compson, and Ellen Coldfield.
(b) Ellen Sutpen, Rosa Coldfield, and Quentin Compson.
(c) Quentin Compson, Mr. Compson, and Ellen Coldfield.
(d) Rosa Coldfield, Quentin Compson, and Mr. Compson.

3. What is the setting of Chapter 4?
(a) At Sutpen's Hundred in 1909.
(b) On the Compsons' porch.
(c) At Sutpen's Hundred in 1865.
(d) In Rosa Coldfield's office.

4. To whom does the recipient of the letter presented in Chapter 4 give the letter to decades ago?
(a) Mrs. Compson, Quentin's grandmother.
(b) Jason Compson.
(c) Rosa Coldfield.
(d) General Compson, Quentin's grandfather.

5. What is the weather like the night of Sutpen's wedding?
(a) It is a perfect summer night.
(b) It is snowing.
(c) There is a tornado coming.
(d) It is raining.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who does Henry bring home from college for Christmas one year?

2. What military conflict has Miss Coldfield lived through?

3. Why does Thomas Sutpen stop attending church?

4. What photograph does Charles Bon have on his person when he dies?

5. What does Mr. Coldfield do with his store when the war breaks out?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Judith portrayed in Chapter 1?

2. Explain why Sutpen chooses Ellen Coldfield to be his bride over all the other women in Jefferson.

3. The story of Sutpen's youth as a poor white on a plantation describes considerable hostility from poor whites directed at black slaves. What was the cause of this hostility?

4. When did Sutpen tell General Compson about why he abandoned his first wife?

5. What does Rosa mean when she says that Sutpen "wasn't a gentleman"?

6. Why is it ironic that the only Sutpen descendant left at the end of the novel is Jim Bond?

7. Why do the townspeople show up at the wedding to throw dirt and vegetables? Is it something more than the fact that they don't like Sutpen?

8. Why were all the charges against Sutpen dropped after his bond was signed by Mr. Coldfield and General Compson?

9. Why did Thomas Sutpen marry Ellen Coldfield?

10. Why does Jason Compson, who is telling much of the story presented in Chapter 2, know so much about Sutpen?

(see the answer keys)

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