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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 does the doctor claim is the reason for Sam's death?

2. While walking along the water, the convict finds a small hut raised up on what?

3. After leaving the Red Cross boat, what body of water do the convict and the refugee walk along?

4. When Ike hears that the woods have been sold, what does he have the urge to do one last time before he moves away?

5. How does the convict react when he hears he must return to prison, this time with an extended sentence?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Ike runs into Boon one last time in the woods?

2. Who does Ike visit with as he rides through the woods one last time?

3. Why must the convict and Cajun man eventually part ways?

4. What happens when the convict meets the woman of his dreams at a refugee camp?

5. How do Ike and McCaslin learn the dark truth of their family's history on the plantation?

6. Where do the convict and the refugee stay when they leave the Red Cross boat?

7. How does Ike respond when he learns that he has inherited a large chunk of land from his father's will?

8. What does Ike claim is the curse that has landed in the South?

9. How does Ike live his life after he decides not to accept his inherited land?

10. How did Ash attempt to outshine Ike as children, and what was the result of his attempt?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 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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