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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. Who digs up the grave?

2. Where does Gavin suggest the bodies could be buried?

3. What part of the body was Vinson shot?

4. Why does Charles think the men have gathered around the jail?

5. Who plans to join Miss Habersham at the local jail?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way are the Gowrie's only a small step above black people?

2. Describe the Gowrie clan

3. Why do you think Charles is so enraged by the behavior of the crowd?

4. Why do the people surrounding the jail quickly disperse when they arrive with the dead body?

5. Describe Crawford and Vinson's lumber business.

6. Who does the sheriff think the man is who passed Charles on the road to the cemetery?

7. Why is Charles so interested in why the black worker is plowing the field?

8. Why did Crawford kill Jake?

9. Why do you think Lucas did not tell the full story in the first place?

10. Why does the Sheriff think that Lucas could not of killed Vinson?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In what way does Falkner subvert stereotypes in this book? Take one character and discuss your first impression of that character? Does Faulkner challenge that first impression?

Essay Topic 2

Faulkner is a native of the area he writes about and adhering to the rule writers should always write about what they know. Do you think it is obvious that Faulkner was a native of Mississippi? What difference do you think it makes to the story? Are there any moments where you think Faulkner does not portray a character or setting so well? What affect does it have on the story?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the story Charles thinks he owes Lucas a favor and there are also many references to the southern gentlemen code. What is the southern gentlemen code? In what way does Faulkner present the southern gentlemen code as a backward and damaging tradition? In what ways do you think the characters and setting would lose and gain from the breakdown of the code?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 833 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample