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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 Bobbie call Christmas?

2. How does Christmas escape the McEachern house one night?

3. What is in the six metal tins which Christmas digs up in a nearby ditch?

4. Byron takes Lena to a _______________ so she can spend the night.

5. The story transitions from an eight-year-old Christmas to Christmas at ___________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Byron so skittish as he leads Lena through town to get her settled in a boardinghouse?

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

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

4. Why are the people of Jefferson not sure that Reverend Hightower is interested in them?

5. Why does Christmas wish that McEachern would discover his absence in the house this night and try to stop him?

6. What is Christmas' final act of naivete regarding Bobbie?

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

8. 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?

9. Why is Christmas attracted to Bobbie?

10. Why does Christmas toss away the food Mrs. McEachern brings him after Mr. McEachern has beaten him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Faith is an important theme in the novel. Give examples of faith from the book that exemplify what is expected of people of faith as well as some examples of behavior which is counter to those with supposed religious beliefs. What points is Faulkner trying to make by pointing out the disparity in beliefs and actions?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the mixed feelings Christmas must have when he trades the woman for the shoes of the black man and can feel his black blood manifesting itself in the physical world.

Essay Topic 3

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?

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This section contains 750 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample