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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 do the townspeople want to do with Christmas?

2. The sheriff has his men beat a Negro so that he will them what?

3. What does Miss Burden leave out for Christmas every Saturday?

4. How is Christmas killed?

5. Why will Lena not accept Byron's marriage proposal?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the symbolism of the odor in Hightower's house?

2. New life has significance in more than one way in this chapter. Explain.

3. Why does Christmas feel he will be safe at Miss Burden's place?

4. What does Hightower finally realize as he sits at his window watching the fading light?

5. As Christmas runs to avoid the law, he stops at a cabin and trades shoes with a Negro woman. What is the significance of the traded shoes?

6. Why does Percy Grimm castrate Christmas while he is still alive?

7. The cries of Lena's newborn child are significant for Byron. Why?

8. What does Hightower mean when he says the fading afternoon light is audible?

9. Explain why Christmas' arrival in the town of Mottstown means that he has come full circle in his life.

10. Why does Christmas refuse to marry Miss Burden and raise a family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

The town of Jefferson seems to be filled with misfits. This is not uncommon in the Southern Gothic style of literature which Faulkner writes. Why do you think there are so many unusual or eccentric characters? Could the story be told with more average characters or is it necessary to populate the town with eccentrics? Explain in context with other Southern Gothic literature with which you may be familiar.

Essay Topic 3

Christmas has a few dreamlike episodes where he disassociates himself from his actions. Why do you think he does this? Are these situations really just dreams or are they really happening?

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