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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Bishop look when they check into the hotel?

2. What was the "enormous" Rayber saved Bishop from?

3. How do Tarwater's eyes look when he hitches a ride?

4. When does Tarwater believe he can walk to Powderhead by?

5. What does Tarwater realize he is holding during his ride to Powderhead?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tarwater's rejection or acceptance of his role as a prophet is central to "The Violent Bear It Away". How are prophets described and defined in the text and how does this influence Tarwater? Also, consider what prophesying requires according to the novel and how that impacts the other characters.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast Rayber and Tarwater in terms of their religious beliefs, feelings and histories.

Essay Topic 3

The characters in "The Violent Bear It Away" were often called different names. Rayber was also "the schoolteacher", and Mason was often called "the old man", for examples. Analyze what the different names imply and which characters used varying names to refer to other characters. Were there power struggles evident, or judgments passed? What is the importance of a name?

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This section contains 231 words (approx. 1 page at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample