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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 meets the gang at the city gate?

2. Where is the doctor headed before he takes over the ferry?

3. Which character does not agree with the Judge's ideas?

4. What is wrong with one of the man they don't shoot?

5. Which of the characters scalps the dead?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the Judge say to Tobin and the Kid?

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

3. What does the Kid do after he recovers from his wound?

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

5. Describe the argument between the proprietor and Jackson in the diner.

6. How does Glanton decide who kills the injured men.

7. What happens to the boy's puppies?

8. How does the gang celebrate its victory?

9. How does the Kid survive the snow and the soldiers' onslaught?

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

Identify the main themes of the story. Why do you think these themes are so important to the story? How does McCarthy use character and setting to express these themes?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss McCarthy's life. In what way do you think his life and personality is reflected in the book? Note how his feelings about religion and philosophy enter his work.

(see the answer keys)

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