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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 Lonnie take over to Halmea's house?

2. What does Lonnie see when he looks in Halmea's window?

3. What does Hud say is for the best?

4. What does Hud tell his girlfriend to do?

5. Where does Halmea go with some friends?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Lonnie want to do and what is Halmea's response?

2. What is wrong with the porch?

3. What do the men do after breakfast?

4. What does Hud say about Granddad?

5. How does Hud act the day after Granddad's death?

6. Why does Lonnie hide and what does he do the day after Granddad's death?

7. What does Jesse advise Lonnie and why does he do so?

8. Who does Hud send for help and what happens as Lonnie is by the roadside?

9. Why does Lonnie swerve off the road and what does Hud do?

10. What does Lonnie do and how does he describe the day?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The readers learn in chapter 6 that Lonnie's father had accidentally killed Lonnie's grandmother (his father's mother) while trying to save her from a rattler. Later, in chapter 13, Hud shoots and kills Granddad. Discuss the following:

1. Define the words matricide and patricide and research several examples from literature or real life, discussing them briefly.

2. How do you think the accidental killing of his mother affected Lonnie's father? Can you see evidence of how this affected Lonnie as he grows older?

3. Do you think there is evidence in Granddad's character and behavior to demonstrate how the death of his wife affected him? What sort of evidence and how do you think the tragic events of the past influence Granddad in raising Lonnie?

3. In a sense, Granddad is Hud's father. Is Hud's killing of Granddad patricide? What do you think are his motives? Is it mercy? Why do you think Hud is cradling Granddad in his lap? If Hud was going to shoot Granddad from the time they find Granddad, do you think he would have sent his girlfriend for help?

4. Do you think Lonnie's father should have been arrested for involuntary manslaughter? Would he have been charged with that in this day? Should Hud be arrested for shooting Granddad? Would he be treated differently today? If Hud's motives were truly out of compassion and knowing Granddad would not want to live, is killing him different than what Kevorkian does?

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.

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