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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. Miller tells Schneider that his protests about finding water make Miller think that Schneider just wants what?

2. Andrews is told that McDonald can be found in "a little shack just this side of" (15) what feature?

3. How does McDonald describe the town of Butcher's Crossing on the day Andrews first comes to see him?

4. McDonald warns Andrews not to talk to hunters in town for what reason?

5. What is NOT a quality of the hunting party's horses by noon on the first day of the expedition?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Andrews is unable to explain to McDonald his esoteric reasons for coming west, what does he tell McDonald instead?

2. What is the author's reason for including McDonald's comment to Andrews that "Young folks…don't know what to do with themselves" (22)?

3. How is foreshadowing employed within the scene focusing on Charley's lost hand?

4. What do Miller's comments about the dwindling number of buffalo show about his character?

5. What does Miller think is Schneider's real reason for wanting to deviate from the party's planned path to water?

6. What reservations does Schneider share about the prospect of the buffalo hunting expedition?

7. What signs does the hunting party see that point to the presence of buffalo before they actually see any?

8. What does the reader learn about the protagonist before even knowing his name?

9. What is the first real danger faced by the buffalo hunting party at the center of the story?

10. What is the significance of the field of buffalo bones depicted in the narrative?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is the motif of dreams included and treated within John Williams's novel Butcher's Crossing and how does its treatment relate to the book's depicted messages?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the instances of irony within the narrative of John Williams's novel Butcher's Crossing and analyze the author's purpose for including each instance you discuss.

Essay Topic 3

Look carefully at the passages of the novel that describe the friction between Schneider and Miller. What is the author's purpose for discussing at length the nature of the friction between these two men?

(see the answer keys)

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