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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. Where does the company store the antelope meat?

2. What is Toadvine missing?

3. With what has the tree been decorated?

4. Where does the Kid spend the night?

5. Who cares for the Kid's wounds?

Short Essay Questions

1. What horrors do Sproule and the Kid see on their walk?

2. How does the kid get robbed?

3. How does Toadvine persuade Glanton to let him, the Kid and the Kentuckian soldier to join?

4. What problems does the company face from the very beginning?

5. What do the Kid and Sproule find in the carreta?

6. Describe the gang's journey toward Texas.

7. What is the business of the Glanton gang?

8. How does the Kid find his donkey again?

9. What bad luck does the Kid have at the end of the chapter?

10. Who is in the old presido?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

McCarthy has lived in Texas and Mexico, adhering to the rule that writers should always write about what they know. Do you think it is obvious that McCarthy knows his subject? What difference do you think it makes to the story? Are there any moments where you think McCarthy does not portray a character or setting so well?

Essay Topic 2

Blood Meridian is written in the third person.

1) Why do you think McCarthy chose to write the story in the third person? How do you think the meaning of the story would have changed if it were written in the first person?

2)Choose a character from the novel and discuss how the story would be different if he were the narrator?

Essay Topic 3

Look at the structure of the novel.

1) How does McCarthy use character and dialogue to drive the narrative.

2) Discuss elements of the narrative structure: Exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

3) Away from the main character, examine the way McCarthy uses the other characters in the story. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 852 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample