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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 name of the family's mother?

2. Who did Quentin have a fight with in a barn?

3. Where does Benjy's mother threaten to send him if he does not behave?

4. In what American state does Faulkner set the novel?

5. Who is credited with looking after the children?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do you think outsiders see Benjamin?

2. Describe the female Quentin's role in the novel.

3. What is Quentin's relationship with his sister Caddy?

4. Do you think Luster understands Benjy?

5. Why do you think Benjy wants his sister back so much?

6. Why do you think both Caddy and Quentin continuously search for love elsewhere?

7. Describe Benjamin Compson's role in the novel.

8. Describe the two parents of the Compson family.

9. Describe Uncle Maury's role in the novel.

10. What complaints does the female Quentin have about Benjy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How do you think 1920's society reacts to Benjy's disability? How do you think people would react today?

Essay Topic 2

In what way does Faulkner express Benjy and Quentin's obsessive behavior? Why do you think Jason is the only narrator not to have obsessive behavior? What meaning does it give to his character and the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Examine Faulkner's life as a writer and a person. How much of the novel do you think comes from Faulkner's personal experience?

(see the answer keys)

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