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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. How many people did the tall convict kill during his robbery?

2. What is the true nature of the small island where the convict and the refugee live for the week after the baby is born?

3. How does the convict feel about the impending delivery of the pregnant refugee's baby?

4. Which of the following animals is NOT one that the convict hunts to feed the refugee woman while they are living on their "island"?

5. How much money does Henry have to his name at the time he purchases his horse?

Short Essay Questions

1. Toward the end of the trip on the steamboat, how does the Red Cross doctor treat the convict?

2. How does the tall convict react to the army camp the prisoners are resettled to during the flood?

3. What is the first thing the convict does when he is aboard the Red Cross steamboat?

4. How is Mrs. Armstid described when she enters the courtroom to plead her case to the judge?

5. What crime was the tall convict convicted of committing?

6. What is the general reaction to the judgment against Snopes in the courtroom?

7. What interaction does the convict have with the first boat of survivors from the flood?

8. Why does Henry get into a shouting match with his wife at the horse auction?

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

10. How does the story of "The Old Man" open?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In both of the stories, "The Old Man" and "Spotted Horses", the stories explore the role the law plays in the common folks' lives. First, explain what role the law (police) plays in the lives of the characters in "Spotted Horses" and compare / contrast that to the role the law plays in the story "The Old Man". Then, choose one character whose life you think was bettered by the intrusion of the law in their problems and compare / contrast that to one character whose life you think was ruined by the law interfering with their problems. At the end of the day, what message do you think Faulkner is trying to send his readers about the intrusion of the law in our everyday lives?

Essay Topic 2

In the story "Spotted Horses", there are three different types of con men introduced to the reader: the sewing machine agent, Flem Snopes, and Hipps. First, describe why each of these three characters could be considered a conman. Then, describe which of these three characters should be considered the most dangerous type of conman and explain what the outcome of their cons were on the small Mississippi town. Be sure to include at least two examples from the text that you believe help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

The story "Spotted Horses" relies heavily on characteristics of tall-tales common in Southern humor writing. How do you see elements of tall-tales, or stories larger than life, in "Spotted Horses"? Do you think the humor of this type of writing is successful in the story, or does the humor take away from the moral message of the tale? Be sure to include at least two examples from the text that you believe helps strengthen your arguments.

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