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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 can be seen beyond the Rio Grande?
2. On their wedding day, where does the couple eat?
3. In the drummer's story, what was the woman carrying up the stairs?
4. What does the porter do when he sees them run from the train?
5. How many times does the train stop while traveling across the state?
Short Essay Questions
1. Explain the significance of the Mexicans in the bar.
2. When seated behind the bar, the barkeeper seems quite comfortable with this situation. Why?
3. What does the drummer say to the man who comes to the door with the warning?
4. When the barkeeper tells the drummer about Scratchy and his past, what do you think of the barkeeper? What does he really feel for Scratchy? What does Scratchy really feel for him?
5. What is the reaction of the men in the bar to the news that Scratchy is on the loose? Do their actions seemed rehearsed? Why? Why not? What does this tell the reader about the town in general?
6. Why does the author say the bride has cooked before? What gives the reader the clue to her background?
7. Explain the role of the African-American porters in this story. How do they regard the couple? Why? Is this alluding to a reverse of racial attitudes of the times?
8. At the opening of Chapter 2, describe the scene in the Weary Gentleman. What is the feeling? Is the town relaxed and pleasant? Why? Why not? What tensions do you feel at this point in the story?
9. What do the fittings on the train symbolize for the couple?
10. What is the symbolism of the little silver watch? Why did Jack by this for his bride? What is this a symbol of?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
What does the scenery out the train window and the encounter with Scratchy at the end of the story have in common? What does each scene tell us about the future of the Old West?
Essay Topic 2
It is described that the man sits on the train with one hand on each knee like he's waiting for a barber. What does the author mean by this? What is he trying to tell the reader about the character? How would the man usually sit if he were a regular traveler?
Essay Topic 3
Describe the drummer and his role in the story. Without the drummer and the barkeeper, how would the reader know what is about to take place? Can you imagine this scene without these two men talking?
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This section contains 1,074 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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