View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does the old gringo say that he wants to die?

2. Where is the old gringo buried?

3. After Harriet's confrontation with General Arroyo, what beverage does she drink with the old gringo inside the Pullman car?

4. How old is the old gringo when he reaches Mexico?

5. In what city of Texas does the old gringo stop before he travels to Mexico?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did La Luna succeed in saving the life of Arroyo during the early stages of the revolution?

2. How did it come to be that Harriet was left without a dowry?

3. How does General Arroyo die?

4. How does Harriet feel upon returning home from Mexico?

5. How did La Luna's husband feel about servants?

6. How has Harriet come to be alone in Mexico?

7. Who is Tomás Arroyo?

8. How does the old gringo win over the general with his Colt .44?

9. Who is General Fierro?

10. How do the guerrilla soldiers react to seeing the mirrors in the ballroom?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

La Luna and La Garduña each play significant roles in the life of General Arroyo. Give a brief description of each woman, and explain their histories with General Arroyo. Then, explain how his relationship with each of these women affected General Arroyo in his military negotiations.

Essay Topic 2

The old gringo has many names in the course of the novel: the old gringo, the American, and Ambrose Bierce. Explain how the old gringo gained each of these three names, and explain what each of the names means to him as a character.

Essay Topic 3

It becomes clear quite early in the text that the old gringo is running away from his past as he flees to Mexico. Explain the history of events that have happened in the old gringo's life, and how these events inevitably led him to Mexico.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 831 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample