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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. Who has a gash in their ear?

2. How did Mason describe the schoolteacher's house?

3. What does Lucette say is coming?

4. What happened after Rayber was shot by Mason?

5. Who thought that everything was a "false alarm"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Mason try to kidnap Bishop?

2. Why does Buford come to Mason's shack in the beginning of chapter 1?

3. What does Tarwater do when Bishop sits on the stairs in front of him at the hotel?

4. Why does Rayber advise Tarwater to avoid extremes?

5. Why does Rayber follow Tarwater quietly when he leaves the house?

6. How is it obvious that Tarwater is unfamiliar with telephones?

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

8. How does Tarwater respond when the truck driver says he better not be sick?

9. What does Tarwater tell the truck driver who asks him why his pants are wet?

10. What does Rayber say Mason did to Tarwater?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Violence and religion converge at many points during this novel. Describe three such times and what is symbolic about the event, how it impacts the characters involved and shapes the rest of the novel. Take time to consider why violence and religion often meet.

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

Tarwater receives rides from three strangers in this novel: Meeks, the truck driver, and the man in the lavender car. Describe each trip in terms of influence on Tarwater, symbolism, reflection of religion, and impact on the rest of the novel.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 564 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample