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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 Granddad do for all the hired hands?

2. What do Lonnie and Jesse discuss?

3. What do Lonnie and his granddad find after working on rounding up the cattle?

4. What does Hud tell his girlfriend to do?

5. Where does Lonnie go the day after Granddad's funeral?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Lonnie think when he hears a shot and what does he subsequently find?

2. To what does Hud confess?

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

4. What do Lonnie, Jesse and Halmea do and what makes Halmea laugh so hard?

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

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

7. What does Hermy tell Lonnie?

8. What is wrong with the porch?

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

10. What does Lonnie do in response to what Hud tells him?

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

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.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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