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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. The soldiers treat death with military etiquette and _______________.

2. According to the soldiers' ____________, death is to be honored.

3. During what war does the story take place?

4. How many sentinels stand guard over the men on the platform?

5. The remaining plank spans how many railroad ties?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the apparatus for hanging the man set up?

2. What other characters appear at the scene with the condemned man?

3. What is noted about the man's position and posture?

4. Explain the second step in the execution.

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

6. How does Part 3 begin?

7. What is unexpected about the condemned man's appearance?

8. Describe the darkness and uncertainty of the forest and what incentive keeps Peyton moving.

9. What can be determined about the condemned man by his appearance?

10. What surprise twist occurs in the plot an hour after the soldier leaves the Farquhar house?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe some of the settings for the story. What is the overall setting? Be sure to include geography, time period and any pertinent popular culture events. Why did Bierce choose to use these places in the story?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of man's inhumanity to man. Identify at least two examples about man's inhumanity to man in the book and provide support for your answers.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 671 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample