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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 signal does the captain give to the sergeant?

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

3. What are the man's movements?

4. What does the condemned man NOT wear?

5. The sound becomes ______________ for the condemned man.

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Part 1 end?

2. What are Peyton and his wife doing at the beginning of Part 2?

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

4. What does Peyton want to know after the mention of the posted notice?

5. How does the author use one word to indicate Mrs. Farquhar's devotion to the Confederate cause?

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

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

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

9. How does Peyton's walking take a more pleasant tone and where does he end up?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the role of men in the 1860s when the men in the story are living through wartime. What precedents do they feel compelled to follow? What restrictions do they have? What freedoms did they enjoy that 21st century men do not, and vice-versa?

Essay Topic 2

Denial takes on an almost human persona in this story. What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 686 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample