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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 does Benjy take letters to?

2. How much money does Uncle Maury want from his sister?

3. How does Caddy make Benjy cry?

4. What does Benji spend most of his time watching?

5. Who does Mrs. Compson worry about leaving in the house?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Dilsey's role in the novel.

2. Why does Benjy's mother change his name from Maury to Benjamin?

3. Describe Benjamin Compson's role in the novel.

4. How does a tale of such hopelessness maintain such power?

5. Summarize the novel.

6. Describe Caddy's role in the novel.

7. Do you think Caddy spoiled Benjy too much?

8. Describe the two parents of the Compson family.

9. Why do you think Benjy does not describe physical appearance?

10. In what way can Benjy understand things better than most people?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine Faulkner's life as a writer and a person. How much of the novel do you think comes from Faulkner's personal experience?

Essay Topic 2

What meaning do you think the Mississippi setting gives the novel? Choose another state and examine how different the novel would be if it was set there.

Essay Topic 3

Why do you think Quentin tells his father that he was the one who got Caddy pregnant? Do you think he is hiding something? Do you think there are any indicators in the book to suggest he is a homosexual?

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