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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 strikes the wagon as it crosses the ford in Chapter 35: “Vardaman”?

2. Who says that Jewel Bundren bought his horse from “pappy” in Chapter 29: “Samson”?

3. What follows the Bundrens’ wagon as they travel in Chapter 44: “Vardaman”?

4. What is Anse’s new wife carrying as she approaches the wagon in Chapter 59: “Cash”?

5. Who is impatient to cross the river with the wagon and get it over with in Chapter 34: “Darl”?

Short Essay Questions

1. What actions does Reverend Whitfield commit in Chapter 41: “Whitfield”? Why?

2. What is significant about Cash Bundren’s mindset and concerns after the accident in Chapter 37: “Darl”?

3. What does Darl discuss in Chapter 57: “Darl”? What is symbolized through this monologue?

4. What is foreshadowed through Anse’s actions in Chapter 53: “Cash”?

5. How do Jewel and Cash Bundren differ in their approach to the problem in Chapter 34: “Darl”?

6. What symbolism can be seen in Jewel Bundren’s actions in Chapter 36: “Tull”?

7. How is the river accident described through Vardaman’s perspective in Chapter 35: “Vardaman”?

8. What question does Vardaman pose to Darl in Chapter 47: “Vardaman”?

9. How are the animals saved from the fire in Chapter 50: “Darl”?

10. How does Dr. Peabody react to Cash’s injury in Chapter 54: “Peabody”?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Darl's arrest in the end of the novel. Why is he taken away? Where is he presumably taken? How does his family respond to Darl's actions and his being taken away?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the sequence of events in As I Lay Dying. Is the narrative presented in a linear fashion? What is noteworthy regarding the linear vs. nonlinear elements of the novel? Where are flashbacks or flash-forwards employed?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the character of Dewey Dell Bundren. How old is Dewey Dell? What qualities stand out the most in her character? How does Dewey Dell differ from the other members of her family?

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