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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 is brought to the house by the neighbors?

2. What does Hud admit?

3. What is Granddad's state?

4. Who does Lonnie find drunk?

5. Who is afraid of Hud when he is drinking?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Granddad send Lonnie and Jesse, and what do they discuss?

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

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. What do the men do after breakfast?

6. What does Hermy tell Lonnie?

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

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

9. What happens to Jesse and Lonzo, and how does Jesse react?

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

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

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.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. Define the concept of family and give a few hypothetical examples of how you define a family unit.

2. Trace and analyze the theme of family in Horseman, Pass By. Are Granddad, Granny, Hud and Lonnie a family? Where does Halmea fall in this set up? Jesse? Lonzo?

3. What do you think Lonnie would say about the concept of family in his life? Do you think he sees Granny and Hud as family along with Granddad? Why or why not.

4. What do you think Hud would say about the concept of family in his life? Do you think he sees Granddad and Lonnie as family? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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