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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 Charles say Will is reading?

2. Where did Lucas have his gun when they found him standing over the dead man?

3. Why does the sheriff think the towns people will not lynch during the day?

4. What does Aleck hear coming toward them?

5. Where does Lucas take Charles?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Lucas not popular with white people in the town?

2. Describe how even in prison the white man is given precedent over the black man.

3. In what way does Charles show he is the epiphany of a southern gentleman in chapter four?

4. In what way does chapter five show the importance of women in southern American life?

5. Describe the painting in Lucas's cabin.

6. In what way does Charles become obsessed by the incident?

7. Describe what Charles remembers about Lucas from four years ago

8. What is the unwritten code of the south when a black man commits a crime against a white man?

9. Why does Lucas want Charles to dig up Gowrie's body?

10. In this chapter how does Faulkner show what he thinks is the main difference between men and women?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Faulkner uses southern dialect. What meaning do you think Faulkner's use of dialect brings to the novel? Do you think the dialect is accurate? Why do you think some authors choose to use dialect while others choose not to? Which method do you think is better?

Essay Topic 2

Using two examples to support your argument, discuss the following statement. The aggressive and sometimes confused attitude the white characters show towards Lucas is a response to his own proud attitude.

Essay Topic 3

Examine the novel's chronological setting.

1) What were the main concerns during the 1940s. How does Faulkner express these concerns?

2) In what ways do you think the novels meaning would change if it was set in today's society?

(see the answer keys)

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