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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 does Mr. McEachern then go to church?

2. Why do the two men in the wagon, Armstid and Winterbottom, give Lena a ride?

3. Christmas walks into the woods and reaches a point by a small stream where he ___________________.

4. How does Mr. McEachern punish Christmas in the stable

5. What does Christmas do instead of having sex with the girl when it is his turn?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the irony of McEachern beating Christmas for not memorizing his catechism lesson?

2. Why does Christmas think that his killing McEachern will make him seem heroic in Bobbie's eyes?

3. Why does the fourteen-year-old Christmas beat the Negro girl instead of having sex with her like the other boys do?

4. What are Byron Bunch's first impressions of Joe Christmas?

5. How do the other men at the planing mill learn more about Christmas' background?

6. Why is McEachern's death symbolic in this chapter?

7. What internal conflict does Christmas begin to experience this night?

8. The author uses the literary technique of a flashback at this point in the book. What purpose does this serve?

9. Two men give Lena a ride in their wagon but one of them is especially concerned about what people might say. What misgivings do the men have about the situation?

10. How does the dietician attempt to thwart disaster in the toothpaste incident?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain Faulkner's use of symbolism and imagery in the book as related to the topic of light. What does the light in August represent? Which characters are especially affected by this light and what does it mean to them?

Essay Topic 2

A major theme in the book is the status and treatment of women in society. Why are women who step outside the boundaries of so-called proper behavior chastised and alienated by the men but accepted by the women? Why are the prominent men in the town especially anxious to get rid of Lena? Why do they not show any compassion for the young woman?

Essay Topic 3

Faulkner is a master at literary devices. Choose three examples of symbolism, metaphors, etc., and briefly describe them and identify the technique which they embody.

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