View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Miller comes back from his ride to report that he had been unable to get within what distance from the pass?

2. Miller states that it is "likely as not" (184) that Schneider has done what in the night?

3. What is NOT a material used by someone in the hunting party when he turns gunpowder into bullets?

4. What adjective does Andrews use to describe the land around him, now that it is covered with snow?

5. How many days does it take the members of the hunting party to finish their shelter?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Charley feel about the coming of winter and why?

2. How does Miller feel about the coming winter and why?

3. What event forces Miller to stop killing buffalo once he has reduced the herd by at least two-thirds?

4. Why must the men construct a wooden and canvas tent once they set up for the hunt?

5. What is the significance of Andrews's growing comfort with the grisly nature of the buffalo skinning process?

6. How does Schneider's death occur?

7. How do the men on the hunting expedition prepare their beds on the night before the buffalo hunt?

8. How does Miller's explanation of his shooting mistake jibe with Andrews's own feelings about fate and consciousness?

9. What is demonstrated about Miller's character when he voices the desire to bring back a huge load of hides to show the hunters in Butcher's Crossing?

10. How does Williams depict Andrews's change in perspective in relation to the grisly task of skinning buffalo?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the author's message regarding the history of America in John Williams's novel Butcher's Crossing and what themes does the author employ in order to send these messages to the reader?

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

Discuss how and why the author of Butcher's Crossing sets the mood for the novel by including an Epigraphs section.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,093 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample