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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. Who tells don Pedro that Fulgor is dead?

2. Why can't Bartolomé's body be brought back to be buried?

3. What does Justina buy in the marketplace?

4. Where does Father Rentería go on his walk after Miguel's death?

5. What does Dorotea carry around with her?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the night Susana learns of Florencio's death.

2. What frustrates don Pedro about Susana?

3. What happens when the revolutionaries come to don Pedro's house?

4. Why does Father Rentería feel guilty about Miguel's crimes?

5. How does don Pedro avenge his father's death?

6. What does Gerardo's wife tell him before he visits don Pedro?

7. Why does don Pedro want Susana's father to disappear in the mines?

8. Why don't the men of Comala come to the marketplace?

9. How does don Pedro deal with the news of Miguel's crimes?

10. When the reader first hears Susana's narrative, where does she think she is?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the themes that runs through the novel is the nature of redemption and hope in a person's life. Select one of the following characters and explain what gives them hope during their lives:

- Juan

- Pedro

- Susana

- Dolores

- Dorotea

Address how (or if) they are able to find any sort of redemption in the afterlife. How do you know this from the novel?

Essay Topic 2

"Pedro Páramo" has several structural elements that appear often in Modernist and Surrealist literature. Explain how the novel uses the following:

- Circular narrative

- Stories within stories

- Setting shifts

How do each of these contribute to the development of the plot.

Essay Topic 3

Dolores is a conflicted character. Originally she is in love with Pedro and excited to learn he wants to marry her, but she soon becomes disenchanted with her life with him.

- What causes Dolores' change of heart?

- Dolores tells Juan not to ask his father for anything, but also to make him pay. Explain what you think she means by this. What do you think Dolores actually wants Juan to do? Using examples from the text explain why you think this.

(see the answer keys)

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