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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 branch of the military did Hazel Motes serve in?

2. What is the one question Hazel Motes asks Mrs. Wally Bee Hitchcock?

3. What does Motes light on fire as he travels through his abandoned house?

4. What topic of conversation arises right before Motes dies that forces him to leave the house, swearing he will never return?

5. How long has it been since Motes drove a car before purchasing his new car in Taulkinham?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Solace Layfield die?

2. Who is Mrs. Wally Bee Hitchcock?

3. How does Emory get his revenge on Gongo the Gorilla?

4. Who is Mrs. Watts?

5. What state is Motes' house in when he returns home from the army?

6. What does Enoch Emory believe is his "secret mystery"?

7. What was Motes' reaction when he was drafted to the army?

8. What does fellow street preacher Hoover Shoats do that affects the following in Moats' congregation?

9. What is Motes' initial reaction to the town of Taulkinham?

10. From where does Motes purchase his new car?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Both Asa Hawks and Hazel Motes go through the process of blinding themselves in the story "Wise Blood." First, describe the situation in which Asa Hawks blinded himself. Then, compare / contrast Hawks' motivations in blinding himself with Motes' motivation in blinding himself. What did each of these men hope to gain from their actions? Were they successful? Why or why not? What methods did each of these men use to blind themselves? What does this action tell the reader about their characters? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

The hat Julian's mother wears is one of great significance in the story "Everything that Rises Must Converge." First, describe Julian's mother's hat and describe her relationship to it. Why is this hat important to her? Then, describe what Julian thinks of his mother's hat and what his reaction is when he realizes the black woman on the bus is wearing an identical one. How does the hat become a symbol not for segregation, as Julian's mother intended, but for equality? What message do you think O'Connor is sending her readers about racial equality through the symbol of the hat? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

As soon as Mason Tarwater dies, Francis is completely unable to eat. Why do you think the ability to eat is the first to leave Francis in his grieving process? Do you think the lack of food is a conscious or unconscious decision on Francis' part? How does Francis use food as a weapon in his relationship with Rayber? Finally, describe what parallels Francis makes between his own eating habits after Mason's death with the story of the fish and bread from the Catholic Bible. What role does Francis see himself fulfilling in this story? Be sure to include examples from the text that you think help strengthen your arguments.

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