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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 does Lonzo suggest?

2. What makes the strain less dangerous?

3. Who returns as Lonnie is just getting up the next morning?

4. How does Granddad respond to Lonzo's suggestion?

5. Who is Hud?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the men on the ranch do the next day?

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

3. Who is Jesse and when does he arrive at the ranch?

4. Where does Lonnie go that evening with Jesse and Lonzo and whom does he see?

5. What happens when the state vet arrives the next day at the ranch?

6. What does Lonzo suggest and what is Granddad's response?

7. What does Newt say about the dead heifer?

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

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

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

Horseman, Pass By, unlike perhaps a majority of novels, does not end on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Horseman, Pass By and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Horseman, Pass By is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

4. Discuss two ideas from Horseman, Pass By that you find intriguing and why.

Essay Topic 2

There are a number of interesting questions raised by this book -- questions that McMurtry may have wanted readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term author agenda mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the author's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss McMurtry's probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

Essay Topic 3

A clear and prominent theme of Horseman, Pass By is that of death. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly trace and analyze the theme of death in Horseman, Pass By. What are some symbols to represent death? Are there different types of death?

2. Discuss the attitude of the following characters towards death: Halmea, Granddad, Hud, Lonnie and Granny.

3. Discuss all the symbols and metaphors surrounding the theme of death.

(see the answer keys)

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