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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. While in Oree, what animal(s) does Ed wonder about getting a chance to hunt?

2. To what businesses does the graphics studio mostly cater ?

3. The first day of the canoe trip, which canoe first experiences difficulties and ends up going sideways?

4. What people surround Ed as he walks back to work from having lunch with the other men?

5. How do Ed and Drew get through their first whitewater on the trip?

Short Essay Questions

1. After the rape and the disposal of the body, how does Ed feel when he hears the worst whitewater of the trip ahead of them?

2. After finding the body of the man he shot and realizing he might have shot the wrong man, how does Ed feel?

3. What does Ed tell his wife when she asks if he really wants to go on the canoe trip?

4. Why does Ed choose to bury the dead attacker instead of telling the authorities what happened?

5. While climbing the cliff after their attacker, how does Ed develop the necessary skills to overcome his lack of climbing ability?

6. When the locals arrive with a gun while Ed and Bobby are resting, what does Ed think is the reason for their accosting Bobby and him?

7. During the luncheon before the canoe trip, what do Bobby and Drew have planned for the rest of the afternoon?

8. From where does Bobby Trippe come?

9. What happens to Ed as he waits on the cliff for their attacker to appear?

10. How does Drew describe the kind of music he plays the first night of the canoe trip?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Music is one way of creating powerful, emotional connections to places, people, and events. In the story, guitar music played during the trip is one way James Dickey evokes a sense of the rural South. Discuss what kind of guitar music the author chose for this story, where in the novel the playing of music was used, and what effect hearing that music had on the listeners. Discuss some other ways James Dickey evoked a sense of the rural South. Cite scenes where he used those other methods to enhance the mood.

Essay Topic 2

The story the men tell the authorities later is crucial to their not being arrested. Describe the story they originally came up with to explain Drew's disappearance and why they decide that story needs changing. Tell what happens that necessitates their changing that story and how this adds to conflict in the novel. What does Ed do after he realizes the story won't hold up? When Ed goes home, does he believe the truth will remain buried forever? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 3

While climbing the cliff and preparing to kill the attacker, Ed takes time to admire the awesome view. It is a well known psychological phenomenon that during times of great stress some people become acutely aware of seemingly insignificant things. Choose at least three of the following to discuss:

1) Tell why you think James Dickey chooses to include this phenomenon in his novel and why he does so at this point in the story? What revelation about Ed results from this scene?

2) Do you believe this event adds to the drama of the situation or detracts from it? Explain your answer.

3) If any of the other characters had climbed the cliff to kill their attacker, do you think that character would have stopped and admired the view? Why or why not? Why does the author choose this character to accomplish this task?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 949 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample