View a FREE sample

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 see when he looks in Halmea's window?

2. Why does Lonnie finally show himself?

3. Who does Lonnie not like?

4. Why does Lonnie hide?

5. What does Hud bet in a card game?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe the preacher's sermon about Granddad.

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

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

5. What does Lonnie decide about his life in the immediate future?

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

7. What does Granddad have in the barnyard and what is the significance?

8. What explanation does Hud give Halmea for his behavior and what is the aftermath of the situation?

9. What does Lonnie do with his rifle and why, and how does Hud react?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Setting as far as place and time play an important role in Horseman, Pass By. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast several aspects of the setting of that day from how it would be today. Consider things such as cultural norms/expectations, technology, religion and medicine.

2. Do you think Horseman, Pass By would be different if it were set in another state in the United States, such as California, in that same era? Consider particularly the fact that Texans often have a strong identification as Texans.

3. What issues that are present in the time of Horseman, Pass By would still be issues today? What would no longer be issues? Consider such things as class, racism, alcoholism, sexual freedom, rugged individualism and integrity.

Essay Topic 2

Alcohol plays an active role in determining the behavior of several of the characters at one point or another in the book. Discuss the following:

1. What is alcoholism?

2. Do you think Hud is an alcoholic? What about Jesse?

3. Is there a time that Lonnie uses alcohol unwisely? Could this be a red flag for Lonnie as to the possibility that he could become an alcoholic? Why or why not?

4. Do you think Hud would have done the things he did while drunk when he was sober? Why or why not?

5. How does Granddad treat alcohol? Do he have a problem with drinking too much?

6. Would you label alcohol as a protagonist or antagonist? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Texas in the mid 1950's is fertile ground for racism. Discuss one of the following:

1. Research the existence of racism in Texas in the mid 1950s and analyze Horseman, Pass By for its accuracy and/or inaccuracy in its portrayal of racism.

2. Trace and analyze the theme of racism througout Horseman, Pass By. Who are the most obvious racists? Who are perhaps subltly racist? Are any of the characters free of prejudice? Who? Why do you say so?

3. Halmea leaves Texas for Detroit to start a new life. Research racism in the North and write about the type of racism Halmea is likely to encounter up north. Write a paper comparing racism in the North to that which occurs in Horseman, Pass By.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,152 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample