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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. What was life like before the arrival of mass communication?

2. Why is Granny going into the city?

3. What does Lonnie say he wants to do?

4. What does Hud think should be done about the heifer?

5. About what does Lonnie reminisce in the Prologue?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Newt say about the dead heifer?

2. How do Jesse's stories affect Lonnie?

3. How does Lonnie feel after hearing the conversation between Hud and Granddad and what does he do?

4. What is a tender scene between Lonnie and Halmea when Lonnie goes in the house?

5. What is Granddad's response to Newt's suggestion?

6. What is Hud's response on the way back from the stockyards when Granddad asks his opinion about the cattle?

7. Why doesn't Granddad want to drill for oil?

8. How does Lonnie feel about the new technology?

9. What happens that makes Halmea cry and what is her response to Lonnie?

10. What does the State Vet tell Granddad about the cattle?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the Prologue, Lonnie reminisces about his childhood on his family ranch in Texas, and how times have changed. He remembers how much slower life was before the arrival of mass communication. Discuss one of the following:

1. Using details from the book, compare/contrast life on the Texas ranch in the mid-1950s with how you would project life would be in the early 21st century on a Texas ranch.

2. Many people, especially as they go into their middle and senior years, idealize childhood. Do you think Lonnie is idealizing his childhood? Why or why not? Why do you think many people idealize their past? Do you think Lonnie's childhood is ideal?

3. Lonnie says that technology has pushed aside the rural way of life, changing things forever. Do you believe that technology and the rural way of life are incompatible? Discuss using details from the book and from other sources.

Essay Topic 2

Horseman, Pass By could be said to be a bildungsroman of Lonnie Bannon, the narrator. Discuss the following:

1. Define the concepts bildungsroman and coming of age.

2. Thoroughly trace and analyze Horseman, Pass By as a bildungsroman of Lonnie Bannon. Give specific examples. What does Lonnie learn? How has Lonnie changed? Is the change for the good?

3. Thoroughly trace and analyze Horseman, Pass By for the suggestions of Hud's past that could be considered a bildungsroman. How do Hud and Lonnie differ in how their experiences change them? Do you think Hud ever had the innocence that Lonnie has? Why or why not? What experiences are mentioned from the past that may have shaped Hud? Do any of the experiences that take place in the present seem to change Hud?

Essay Topic 3

In chapter 1, Halmea tells Jesse that what Jesse needs is a wife and children, but Jesse answers that he has enough trouble getting by on his own, without having to support a family. Discuss the following:

1. Based on details in the book, do you think Granddad would agree that a man needs a wife? Explain fully.

2. Hud seems the opposite of Granddad as far as settling down goes. He is 35 and has not been married. Fully discuss why you think Hud has not married and if you think he should take Halmea's advice to Jesse for himself. Do you think Halmea would advise Hud to settle down and marry?

3. Evaluate Jesse's reply to Halmea's advice and Jesse's character throughout the book and discuss whether you think Jesse is using finances as an excuse not to marry.

(see the answer keys)

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