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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. While Ike is riding through the woods, what machinery does he hear in the distance?

2. Why must the Cajun man and the convict move on from the small hut near the water?

3. Which of the following characters believes he has squandered close-range shots when he comes face-to-face with Old Ben?

4. Which of the following characters saves Lion from being scooped up by Old Ben?

5. Who do the hunters send along with the young boy to the liquor store?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the legend that surrounds Old Ben?

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

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

4. According to Sam, what mistake does the young boy make when he goes out into the woods in search of Old Ben on his own?

5. How is Old Ben killed?

6. What type of relationship do Boon and Ike have?

7. Who is Lion, and how does he react the first time he comes face-to-face with Old Ben?

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

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

10. What is the reaction from the townsfolk when news spreads that both Old Ben and Sam are dead?

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

The moral of the story of "The Bear" has much to do with race relations in the South. First, describe the way that Ike learns his family history of race relations in the South. What is his reaction to this personal history? Then, explain how the bear, Old Ben, is used a symbol to represent race relations in the South. Do you think the bear is an appropriate symbol for this theme? Why or why not? As a reader, how does the symbol of the bear give you a better, deeper understanding of race relations in the South? Be sure to include at least two examples from the text that you think 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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This section contains 1,283 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample