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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. In how many states is the priest wanted?

2. Where is the gang invited to dinner?

3. What do the soldiers have in a jar?

4. Where does the Kid ride to in the evening?

5. What do Sproule and the Kid find at the rim rock?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the gang's journey toward Texas.

2. Describe the fight with the bear.

3. Why does the Kid join the army?

4. Why does the Captain want to fight the Mexicans?

5. What does the Judge do with the dead Indian?

6. How does the kid get robbed?

7. Describe the Kentuckian soldier.

8. How did the Judge help the gang massacre the Indians?

9. What do the prisoners see when they are let out of their cells?

10. How does the Kid find his donkey again?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The main themes in the novel are violence, good and evil, and religion. Take one of these themes and discuss how mcCarthy expresses them in the book? Why do you think these themes were important concerns in 1850s America?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the impact of good and evil within our culture. Have representations of good and evil had a negative impact on society? Does the division of good and evil make things seem simpler than what they are? Does McCarthy subvert any ideas of good and evil in Blood Meridian?

Essay Topic 3

Pick a character from the novel and discuss his goals and motives. Does he achieve his motives? Why? Does he share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do his goals clash with other characters? How do the characters' goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

(see the answer keys)

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