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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 do the women want to do with the side show's brother?

2. Who saves the side show man's brother from drowning?

3. Who meets the gang at the city gate?

4. For what does the man search?

5. What causes Tobin and the Kid to travel slowly?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does the gang celebrate its victory?

3. The gang tries to convince the doctor of what?

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

5. Describe how Elrod gets killed.

6. What happens between Glanton and the Indians in Chapter 16?

7. How does the book end?

8. In what way does Chapter 20 show a theme of evil?

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

10. How does the gang get to the town of Jesus Maria?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Look at the racism portrayed in Blood Meridian. Do you think it stops just at the African American or are people like the Kid wronged against? Is the Glanton gang's battles against the Indians and the Mexicans racially motivated? Why do you think the Glanton gang accepts Black Johnson even going so far as telling the proprietor he had the right to be served? Was racism mostly restricted to the middle and upper classes in the 19th century? If so, why was this the case?

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

Discuss whether you think this statement is true or false: "The violence in Blood Meridian is often unnecessary and serves little purpose." Use two examples from the novel to support your argument.

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