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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. Which of the following characters believed himself to be a prophet at some point in his life?

2. Which of the following Biblical stories does Francis think about after his sexual assault?

3. What crime had Mason committed leading to his incarceration in the mental institution?

4. How old was George Rayber when Mason kidnapped him?

5. What does Meeks sell for a living?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Francis fear having to bury his uncle at the opening of the story,"The Violent Bear it Away"?

2. Why was Mason Tarwater admitted into a mental institution, and how did he get out?

3. What event at the science museum jars Rayber into remembering his own religious childhood?

4. How did Francis Tarwater come to live with his great-uncle Mason?

5. How does Mason's neighbor, Buford Munson, react when he hears that Mason is dead?

6. How does Francis prove his difficult nature to Rayber after moving in with him?

7. What is Francis' initial reaction when he meets his cousin, Bishop?

8. What conversation does Francis have with Meeks right after Mason dies?

9. How did George Rayber go deaf?

10. How does Bishop die?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the story "The Lame Shall Enter First," Rufus Johnson is a child with a rough upbringing. First, describe Rufus' childhood and the effect these circumstances had on his personality. Then, describe the way Rufus survives in his day-to-day life. What "sins" does he commit on a regular basis? Finally, explain Rufus' moral justification for the sins he commits. What statement about religion and religious text do you think Flannery O'Connor is making through Rufus' character and interpretation of the Bible? Be sure to include examples from the text that you think help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Many of the characters in the story "Wise Blood" have extreme relationships with religion, and religion is easily corrupted by the characters of this story. First, describe the type of religion Motes grew up with as a child. Then, compare / contrast that religion to the religion he started as an adult. Then, choose one character whose life benefited from extreme religion and compare / contrast their relationship with religion to a character whose life was harmed due to extreme religion. In the end, what message do you think O'Connor was sending to her audience about religion? How can you tell? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

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