View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who prepares to take the wagon across the ford as the others walk over the remains of the bridge in Chapter 33: “Tull”?

2. Of the men who accompany Darl on the train in Chapter 57: “Darl,” says they are riding on the state’s money which is referred to as what?

3. What do the Bundrens do to relieve Cash of the heat in his leg in Chapter 48: “Darl”?

4. Cash says in Chapter 59: “Cash” that he could have bought a gramophone from whom for $5?

5. Who goes to the Bundren's wagon to tell them about the bridge in Chapter 29: “Samson”?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How is Cash’s condition described in Chapter 42: “Darl”? Where is the Bundren family going in this chapter?

3. What conflict almost arises in Chapter 52: “Darl”? Why?

4. What is Samson’s opinion of Anse Bundren in Chapter 29: “Samson”? What does Samson offer the family?

5. How do the Bundrens make a cast for Cash in Chapter 46: “Darl”? What does this foreshadow?

6. How is Anse Bundren’s selfishness illustrated in Chapter 43: “Armstid”?

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

8. How is the timeline of the Bundren children described in Chapter 40: “Addie”?

9. How is Jewel’s arrival described from Darl’s perspective in Chapter 27: “Darl”?

10. What does Vardaman think about the setting and situation in Chapter 56: “Vardaman”?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the character of Vardaman Bundren in As I Lay Dying. How old is Vardaman? How does this character differ from his siblings? What is Vardaman's relationship to his parents?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the plot structure of As I Lay Dying. Where in the narrative are the exposition and rising action? Where does the climax occur? What is revealed in the falling action and denouement of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the characters of Tull and Cora in the novel. What are Tull and Cora's relationship to the Bundrens? In what ways do the Tulls assist the Bundrens when Addie becomes ill?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 734 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample