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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. After whom was Richard Allen Mesington named?
2. What actually ignites the black powder in the "sweet" rifle as it hangs in Harv Kline's house?
3. According to the novel, how old was Richard Allen Mesinger "supposed" to be when he died?
4. When Richard Allen Mesington is seven years old his family moves to what state?
5. Who lives next door to the Richard Allen Mesington family in Missouri?
Short Essay Questions
1. What experiences does Mesinger have with firearms in his life?
2. The Mesinger family moves several times during the novel; what impact does this have on Richard Allen Mesinger?
3. The novel openly mocks Tim Harrow's personal philosophy that draws from firearms and American history, the United States Constitution, and Christianity. Do you think that these sources of information are suitable for mockery?
4. Describe Richard Allen Mesinger's academic performance.
5. Describe the early life of Richard Allen Mesinger .
6. Was the "sweet" rifle fundamentally different from other rifles of the period?
7. What does Richard Allen Mesinger think about his neighbor Harv Kline's antique gun?
8. Who is the most sympathetic character in the novel, and why?
9. Why don't the Mesinger and the Kline children play together?
10. Tim Harrow is characterized as a fringe "crazy" person; the narrative openly mocks him. What actions does he perform in the novel that would make you shun him in the real world?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Why does the novel "need" to have the accidental discharge come from an old muzzle-loading, black powder rifle? Wouldn't the novel work just as well with an AK-47 hanging above Kline's mantel? Why or why not?
Essay Topic 2
When rifle kills British officers, who is doing the killing--Byam or the rifle? When the rifle kills Richard David Mesinger, who is doing the killing--Harv Kline or the rifle? Why are the two situations different? Compare and contrast.
Essay Topic 3
In today's terms, John Byam would be called a sniper. Discuss the role of snipers in today's military actions. Is the role of a sniper somehow immoral? Why or why not?
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This section contains 597 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) |
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