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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. How often does Gifford return to the store to question Huffaker about Ownby?

2. Where is Ownby heading when he leaves his house from the back door?

3. What about Sylder's appearance shocks John Wesley?

4. To whose shop do the boys take the captured skunk?

5. What does Sylder's wife wonder about her husband when he returns from his drop-off?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does McCarthy wait until this point in the story to reveal the orchard keeper's formal name?

2. Describe the activities of the wildcat as it tries to find dry quarters as well as something to eat.

3. How does Gifford put pressure on John Wesley to give up information about Sylder?

4. Describe the police attack on Ownby's house.

5. What are John Wesley and Warn's speculation on what had happened to the mink?

6. Describe Ownby's encounter with a welfare department agent in the jail.

7. Why does McCarthy wait until this point in the story to reveal the orchard keeper's name?

8. How else might the irony of Sylder and John Wesley's friendship be interpreted?

9. What information does John Wesley give to Gifford and what does Sylder say about it?

10. What sense of foreboding does Sylder have as he tries to fall asleep?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a brief character study of Kenneth Rattner. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him at this point?

Essay Topic 2

McCarthy is a master at dramatic devices. Choose an example of symbolism, metaphors, and irony. Briefly describe them and identify the technique which they embody.

Essay Topic 3

Create a brief character study of Marion Sylder. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him at this point?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,269 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample