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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. In what part of the body is Tobin shot?

2. Where is is the man traveling through?

3. How many days later do the Indians attack?

4. What does the gang ask for from the doctor in exchange for their protecting him?

5. For what does the man search?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 21 how do the Kid and Tobin recover?

2. Describe how Elrod gets killed.

3. What does the Judge say to Tobin and the Kid?

4. How do Toadvine and the Kid escape the Indians?

5. Describe how the man dies.

6. What happens to the gang's Indian scouts?

7. Who wants to join the gang in Chapter 17?

8. On what do the Judge and the gang leaders agree?

9. Describe the argument between the proprietor and Jackson in the diner.

10. How do Glanton and his gang use the ferry?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novel is set mostly in Texas.

1) What meaning does Texas bring to the novel? What would you automatically presume about a novel that was set in Texas?

2) How different do you think today's Texas is to the Texas in the novel? How do you think the novel's meaning would change if it were set in today's Texas?

3) How do you think the Texas settings of the novel contribute to the novel's violent tone?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss McCarthy's life. In what way do you think his life and personality is reflected in the book? Note how his feelings about religion and philosophy enter his work.

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)

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