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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. Why is the sheriff reluctant to do anything?

2. Who has the sheriff hired to look after Lucas?

3. What does Charles ask Aleck Sander to do?

4. When does Charles think the Gowries will go after Lucas?

5. What does Charles say Will is reading?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. How does chapter five express Charles's need to come of age as a man?

5. Why is Sheriff Hampton so reluctant to react to Charles story about the mule?

6. Why do the town think Lucas is guilty of the murder?

7. Describe Lucas's appearance.

8. Describe the painting in Lucas's cabin.

9. In what way does chapter five express the segregation between black and white people?

10. Why does Miss Habersham help Lucas out?

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

William Faulkner is a American writer responsible for some of the greatest American novels of the 20th century. Examine Faulkner's life. What kind of upbringing did he have? What kind of education? What were the major themes of his work?Why do you think Faulkner's novels were so relevant in the mid twentieth century and continue to be relevant today?

Essay Topic 3

Faulkner often hints at a divide between the North and South of America. Using one example in the book discuss how Faulkner shows this divide. What do you think caused this divide? Is the divide still there today?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 816 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample