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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 does not want Charles's mother to go to the jail?

2. Who did Crawford sell his lumber to?

3. Who does the sheriff say sold the gun to Crawford Gowrie?

4. What does Lucas want while he sits in the car?

5. Who ends up riding the horse home?

Short Essay Questions

1. For what reason does Charles think Lucas was not lynched?

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

3. How do Gavin and the Sheriff plan to catch Crawford?

4. In what way does Faulkner portray Miss Habersham as a strong woman?

5. Why is Charles' father so angry?

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

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

8. How is the sheriff proven wrong in chapter six?

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

10. What is Uncle Gavin's take on the civil rights struggle in the South?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Look at the novel's characterization. How well drawn do you think Faulkner's characters are? Select one of the minor characters such as Mr. Gowrie and discuss how much you know about his background. In what ways does Faulkner provide the reader with information about that character?

Essay Topic 2

Identify the main themes of the story. Why do you think these themes are so important to the story and Faulkner? How does Faulkner use character and setting to express these themes?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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