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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 is in command of the legion of soldiers?

2. Who leads the Sonoran cavalry?

3. Where are Tobin and the Kid able to refresh themselves?

4. Where does the gang find the pueblo?

5. What part of the body does the arrow hit the Kid?

Short Essay Questions

1. On what do the Judge and the gang leaders agree?

2. In Chapter 21 how do the Kid and Tobin recover?

3. How does the gang celebrate its victory?

4. What happens to the gang's Indian scouts?

5. Describe the fight between the locals and the gang.

6. What happens between Glanton and the Indians in Chapter 16?

7. How do Toadvine and the Kid escape the Indians?

8. How do Glanton and his gang use the ferry?

9. The gang tries to convince the doctor of what?

10. Summarize the novel.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Look at the structure of the novel.

1) How does McCarthy use character and dialogue to drive the narrative.

2) Discuss elements of the narrative structure: Exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

3) Away from the main character, examine the way McCarthy uses the other characters in the story. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss whether you think this statement is true or false: "The violence in Blood Meridian is often unnecessary and serves little purpose." Use two examples from the novel to support your argument.

Essay Topic 3

Examine how much the Kid's upbringing was responsible for the person he became? What did he learn from his parents that made him into the person he became? How much did his father's blaming him for his mother's death affect him? Did it make him become a cold person? Would things have been any different if had met less violent people on his travels?

(see the answer keys)

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