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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. Why does the driver want John to stay with his mother?

2. What does Bailey's wife do on the way down to Florida?

3. Who does the Misfit tell his men to take into the woods?

4. What does the Misfit say is the only thing he gets pleasure from?

5. What kind of people does Grandmother say the Misfit comes from?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does The Misfit give the Grandmother salvation?

2. How is O'Connor's portrayal of a serial killer unconventional?

3. Describe Misfit's bad experiences as a child.

4. Why do you think children make the Misfit nervous?

5. Describe Misfit's life?

6. Why do you think the Grandmother tries to persuade the Misfit to pray?

7. Why is Grandmother so delighted that the Misfit suddenly shows an interest in Jesus?

8. In what way does the Grandmother change moments before she dies?

9. Why does not O'Connor tell the reader what Bailey says to his mother?

10. Why do you think Grandmother smuggles the cat into the car?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why do you think O'Connor portrays the family members, including the main character, so negatively? What impact does it have on the story's meaning? How did you feel about their deaths?

Essay Topic 2

The story occasionally expresses Grandmother's character as a racist, though she seems to deny it. What to you think grandmother saw and was taught to think to come to such a point of view? Was it a problem in the South at that time? Can a person change if they deny their true feelings?

Essay Topic 3

At the end of the book, Grandmother redeems herself and dies with a smile on her face. In what ways does O'Connor represent Grandmother as a character who needs to redeem herself? Why is it important she redeems herself?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 760 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample