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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. Whose voice is the stranger's?

2. What does Rayber forget to put on the night he follows Tarwater?

3. What does Rayber call the aptitude test?

4. What feature was Tarwater unable to recall about the schoolteacher's face?

5. What type of boy does Mason say Tarwater is?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Rayber reminded of when he holds Bishop to tie his shoe?

2. Why does the stranger's voice tell Tarwater that hunger does not count as a sign?

3. Why does Tarwater move toward Bishop when he jumps in the water fountain at the park?

4. When Tarwater is digging the grave for Mason, what does he think of Rayber?

5. When Tarwater is looking over Bishop in the fountain, what does he think?

6. At the end of chapter 6, how does Rayber feel about Tarwater?

7. Why does Rayber feel he can read Tarwater like a book?

8. Why is Tarwater concerned for his own soul while burying Mason?

9. Why does Rayber say that Tarwater is his son also when they check in to the hotel?

10. Why does Rayber see himself fleeing with Lucette?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tarwater's rejection or acceptance of his role as a prophet is central to "The Violent Bear It Away". How are prophets described and defined in the text and how does this influence Tarwater? Also, consider what prophesying requires according to the novel and how that impacts the other characters.

Essay Topic 2

Tarwater's internal conflict is centered on baptizing/not baptizing Bishop. Follow this conflict from the beginning of the novel to the end. How do other people affect Tarwater's conflict? How does Tarwater argue for and against baptizing Bishop? Discuss and analyze the resolution.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Rayber and Tarwater in terms of their religious beliefs, feelings and histories.

(see the answer keys)

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