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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 type of animal does the convict compare the newborn baby to?

2. Who does the heckler fear is in cahoots with Hipp running his scam?

3. Who does Ratcliff claim is directly responsible for the damages the Tull family incurred as a result of the wild horse stampede?

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

5. Which of the following families is considered the most dishonest family in Mississippi by the townsfolk?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What happens the firs time the convict attempts to turn himself into the police?

3. What crime did the fat convict plead guilty to in court, and why?

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

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

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

7. What story does the tall convict tell the fat convict about his intentions while away from prison?

8. In addition to the case brought up against Snopes, what other charges were pressed in the Mississippi town after the wild horse stampede?

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. Why does Snopes end up with five dollars in his hand at the end of the auction?

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

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 3

In the novels, "The Bear" and "The Old Man", Faulkner chooses to employ protagonists that are sparsely described, even ambiguous in character. Choose one of the ambiguously described characters from this collection and describe what the reader knows about the character from the text. Then, argue whether or not the vague description of the character is effective and why. What message do you think Faulkner is sending to the audience through his sparse use of detail? Be sure to include at least two examples from the text that you believe help strengthen your arguments.

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