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

2. What happens to cause Miller to decide to use the last of the party's water for the oxen and horses?

3. What number room is Andrews given when he checks into the hotel in Butcher's Crossing?

4. What is the hotel clerk's reply when Andrews asks the clerk if he knows a man by a particular name?

5. When Miller asks why Andrews had turned down a job with McDonald, what is Andrews's reply?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the dream motif appear within the passages of Andrews's anticipation of the hunting expedition?

2. Discuss how Andrews and McDonald qualify as character foils.

3. For what purpose does Andrews immediately seek McDonald when he reaches Butcher's Crossing?

4. How does the theme of racism arise within the character of Miller?

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

6. What are Miller's reasons for choosing the destination he does for the buffalo hunting expedition?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a critical essay about John Williams's novel Butcher's Crossing while using the critical power theory lens of feminist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the novel's treatment of gender roles, the objectification of women, female empowerment, misogyny's role within society, or any other issues related to feminist theory that can be found in the book.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the author's choice to tell the story of John Williams's novel Butcher's Crossing using the third person omniscient point-of-view. What elements of the novel's themes lend themselves to this choice and what is the author's intended effect on the reader?

Essay Topic 3

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.

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