View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. On April 19, 1831, when does Landor believe he will be dead?

2. How old was Landor when his mother died?

3. How large is the circle of indentations that Landor and Poe find in the icehouse in Chapter 11?

4. Where does Landor tell Poe that his father took him to a camp meeting when he was a boy?

5. When did Poe's mother come to America?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Landor write to Henry Kirke Reid on October 30, 1830?

2. Who found Cadet Fry's body, and what does he say about finding the body?

3. How was Landor summoned to West Point in Chapter 1?

4. Why does Landor converse with a steward at the mess hall in Chapter 16?

5. Why is Landor staying at Mr. Cozzens' hotel in Chapter 4?

6. How does Poe meet Landor in Chapter 9?

7. Who was de Lancre, and what did he write that seemed to have relevance to the Fry case?

8. Why is Landor summoned to West Point?

9. What is Professor Pawpaw's cottage like outside?

10. How is Landor innundated by people from his past in "Last Testament of Gus Landor"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Landor is selected to investigate a murder at West Point. Why is Landor selected to investigate Fry’s death and mutilation?

Essay Topic 2

Metaphors and similes are figures of speech that are used to make comparisons between things. Metaphors seem to imply an equal comparison, while similes seem to imply a similarity between two things. Does Bayard use more metaphors or similes in The Pale Blue Eye? How does the use of metaphors or similes help readers comprehend concepts? How does the use of metaphors or similes help make the writing more interesting?

Essay Topic 3

Accumulation is a literary device that allows an author to gather scattered ideas in a literary work and gradually build on information readers need to know. From whose perspective are various sections told? How does each section add information? How does the use of multiple viewpoints allow Bayard to use accumulation to advance the plot and provide important details to readers?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,091 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample