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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. Which of the following facts about Sam is NOT true?

2. What governmental rank does the man have whom the tall convict finally turns himself into?

3. How old is Ike when he moves in with McCaslin?

4. What is the reaction from the townsfolk when they hear the news that Old Ben is dead?

5. Why does the tall convict consider escaping prison for the first time in his life?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who finally sells the land on which the hunting camp once stood?

2. What happens in the story when the young boy turns sixteen?

3. How is Old Ben killed?

4. Who is Ash?

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

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

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

8. What do the hunters do to pass the time when they are bored on their hunting trips?

9. How does the convict spend his time during the week he lives with the Cajun man?

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

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

Halfway through the story, "The Bear", Faulkner completely changes his use of grammar and punctuation. First, describe the narrative style Faulkner employs in the first half of the novel and compare / contrast that to the narrative style he employs in the second half of the novel. What prompts the change in Faulkner's writing style halfway through the novel? What is accomplished by this change is style? What is lost? In the end, do you think the change in narrative style was effective, or successful? Why or why not? Be sure to include at least two examples from the text that you believe help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

In the story, "The Bear", the land itself holds great significance to many of the characters in the story. Choose one character from the story and describe their relationship with the land. Where did this character learn their relationship to/with the land? How does their relationship with the land affect this character's actions and motivations throughout the story? Be sure to include at least two examples from the text that you believe help strengthen your arguments.

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