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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 is the source of the sound that the condemned man hears?

2. During what war does the story take place?

3. What do the men in the infantry do while waiting for the execution?

4. How old is the man to be hanged?

5. The rope around the man's neck is attached to ______________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What frightens Peyton about the night sky and walking through the woods?

2. How does the soldier take his leave from the Farquhar home?

3. What is the point of view used by the author in Part 2 and how can you determine that.

4. What is the irony that Peyton notes after he has landed in the water with the noose still around his neck?

5. What questions does the author plant in the reader's mind about why Peyton was selected for the encounter with the Federal scout?

6. What does the condemned man look at from his position?

7. What is the unwritten rule guiding the soldiers in their demeanor at the execution?

8. What does Peyton experience when the rope is finally removed from his neck?

9. What kind of tension and feeling does the author leave the reader with at the end of Part 2?

10. Who s present as spectators of the event and how do they conduct themselves?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is your opinion of Peyton Farquhar? Do you think he was a willful man bent on his own destruction for his own purposes? Or is he someone to be pitied for his misguided sense of loyalty and duty? Or is he someone else entirely? State your position on Peyton and support your answer with rationale.

Essay Topic 2

There is much symbolism in this story regarding the tall black trees. Name two interpretations of what the trees could symbolize and cite reasons for your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Bierce uses more than one instance of irony in the book. Cite at least two examples you can identify in the story and note why they are examples of irony.

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This section contains 704 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample