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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. Who is Hipps' partner in moving the horses to Mississippi?

2. What does the fat convict claim he grabbed onto in order to save himself when his boat overturned?

3. According to the court, who is entitled to the body of Eck's dead horse?

4. To whom is the tall convict narrating the story of what happened to him during the weeks he was away from prison?

5. How does the doctor react when he learns the truth about the convict's past?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Tull outraged with the decision about his case in the courtroom?

2. What is Ratcliff's reaction to Hipps' arrival in Mississippi?

3. How many people in the prison know the true crime that the fat convict committed?

4. What reaction does Doctor Varner have to the news that there has been a wild horse stampede in town?

5. What happens when Eck's horse comes into contact with the Littlejohn house?

6. How does Snopes treat Mrs. Armstid in court when she brings up a case against him?

7. What happens when Eck's horse comes into contact with the Tull family?

8. What are Eck's expectations when he enters the court on the day of his trial?

9. How many of the wild horses escape from the corral at the end of the auction, and what is the farmer's reaction to this number?

10. How is Wallstreet almost injured while helping to prepare the wild horses for their auction?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the strongest themes in the story "The Old Man" is the theme of fear, particularly the fears of the tall convict. First, create a list of fears that the tall prisoner has. Then, choose one of those fears and explain how the fear affects the relationships he forms in his life. Finally, explain whether or not the convict conquers this fear in the story and how he does so. If he doesn't conquer this fear, explain how the convict lets the fear overtake his life. Be sure to include at least two examples from the text that you believe help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

In the story "The Old Man", the tall convict is faced with the idea of freedom for the first time in eight years during the flood. First, explain the tall convict's reaction to the idea of freedom. How does the convict's relationship to freedom and the outside, "normal" world fuel his actions throughout the story. How do these actions give the reader deeper insight into the tall convict's view of himself and of his crimes? Be sure to include at least two examples from the text that you believe help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the novel, "The Old Man", Faulkner continues to hint at what he believes to be the dehumanization of men in prison. Choose two examples from the text that you believe best exemplify the dehumanization of prisoners. How does Faulkner use the examples of the two convicts as a way to explore this dehumanization? Finally, do you think Faulkner's message of dehumanization could effect change in current prisons today? Why or why not? Be sure to include at least two examples from the text that you believe help to strengthen your arguments.

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