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Southern Gothic Answers

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Read the excerpt from Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”The old woman and her daughter were sitting on their porch when Mr. Shiftlet came up their road for the first time. The old woman slid to the edge of her chair and leaned forward, shading her eyes from the piercing sunset with her hand.The characters in the excerpt are an example of

A
religious fundamentalists.
B
people with disabilities.
C
the isolated lower classes.
D
the racially intolerant.
2
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Read the excerpt from Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”“It’s nothing so sweet,” Mr. Shiftlet continued, “as a boy’s mother. She taught him his first prayers at her knee, she give him love when no other would, she told him what was right and what wasn’t, and she seen that he done the right thing. Son,” he said, “I never rued a day in my life like the one I rued when I left that old mother of mine.”What is ironic about Mr. Shiftlet’s comments?

A
He discusses his mother although he doesn’t seem to actually have a mother.
B
He has picked up a hitchhiker who has run away from his mother.
C
He speaks about morals after having just abandoned his wife at a roadside diner.
D
He clearly has no regrets about having left his mother when he was a younger man.
3

Read the excerpt from Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”Although the old woman lived in this desolate spot with only her daughter and she had never seen Mr. Shiftlet before, she could tell, even from a distance, that he was a tramp and no one to be afraid of. His left coat sleeve was folded up to show there was only half an arm in it and his gaunt figure listed slightly.Which phrase connects these characters to the Southern gothic genre?

A
half an arm ✓ Correct
B
she had never seen
C
his left coat sleeve
D
folded up
4

Read the sentence from Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”The ugly words settled in Mr. Shiftlet’s head like a group of buzzards in the top of a tree.How does the simile in the sentence develop the Southern gothic character of Mr. Shiftlet?

A
The image hints at Mr. Shiftlet’s pending tragic death.
B
The image emphasizes that Mr. Shiftlet lives in an uncaring world.
C
The image reminds readers that Mr. Shiftlet is a damaged character.
D
The image reveals that Mr. Shiftlet will leave Lucynell behind.
5

Read the excerpt from Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”They drove back to the house to let the old woman off and pick up the lunch. When they were ready to leave, she stood staring in the window of the car, with her fingers clenched around the glass. Tears began to seep sideways out of her eyes and run along the dirty creases in her face. “I ain’t ever been parted with her for two days before,” she said.Which best describes the irony in the excerpt?

A
Mrs. Crater has never been separated from her daughter, and now she must let her go for two days.
B
Mrs. Crater’s tears are insincere because she is happy that her daughter is finally leaving her alone.
C
Instead of experiencing the joy of gaining a son-in-law, Mrs. Crater feels the sorrow of losing her daughter.
D
As the two part ways, Lucynell does not feel the same amount of emotional despair as her mother.
6

Read the excerpt from Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”The boy bent over her and stared at the long pink-gold hair and the half-shut sleeping eyes. Then he looked up and stared at Mr. Shiftlet. “She looks like an angel of Gawd,” he murmured.“Hitch-hiker,” Mr. Shiftlet explained. “I can’t wait. I got to make Tuscaloosa.” The boy bent over again and very carefully touched his finger to a strand of the golden hair and Mr. Shiftlet left.Which statement most accurately represents the excerpt’s larger idea?

A
Getting what you want may not make you happy.
B
Beauty and truth appear in unexpected places.
C
Social isolation may lead people to act immorally.
D
You may not get everything that you have bargained for.
7

Read the excerpt from Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”The daughter could not see far in front of her and continued to play with her fingers. Although the old woman lived in this desolate spot with only her daughter and she had never seen Mr. Shiftlet before, she could tell, even from a distance, that he was a tramp and no one to be afraid of. His left coat sleeve was folded up to show there was only half an arm in it and his gaunt figure listed slightly to the side as if the breeze were pushing him. He had on a black town suit and a brown felt hat that was turned up in the front and down in the back and he carried a tin tool box by a handle. He came on, at an amble, up her road, his face turned toward the sun which appeared to be balancing itself on the peak of a small mountain.What technique does O’Connor use in the paragraph to create compelling characters?

A
detailed descriptions
B
vivid dialogue
C
multiple settings
D
believable motivations
8

Which type of Southern gothic character is represented in O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own”?

A
religious fundamentalist
B
isolated lower class
C
inexplicably violent person
D
racially intolerant person
9

Read the excerpt from Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”They drove back to the house to let the old woman off and pick up the lunch. When they were ready to leave, she stood staring in the window of the car, with her fingers clenched around the glass. Tears began to seep sideways out of her eyes and run along the dirty creases in her face. “I ain’t ever been parted with her for two days before,” she said.Which best describes the irony in the excerpt?

A
Mrs. Crater has never been separated from her daughter, and now she must let her go for two days.
B
Mrs. Crater’s tears are insincere because she is happy that her daughter is finally leaving her alone.
C
Instead of experiencing the joy of gaining a son-in-law, Mrs. Crater feels the sorrow of losing her daughter. ✓ Correct
D
As the two part ways, Lucynell does not feel the same amount of emotional despair as her mother.
10

Read the excerpt from Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”“My only,” the old woman said, “and she’s the sweetest girl in the world. I wouldn’t give her up for nothing on earth. She’s smart too. She can sweep the floor, cook, wash, feed the chickens, and hoe. I wouldn’t give her up for a casket of jewels.”Which best describes the irony of the excerpt?

A
Mrs. Crater asserts that Lucynell can sweep, cook, feed the chickens, and hoe, but the girl also is very smart.
B
Mrs. Crater is describing all of her daughter’s strengths to Mr. Shiftlet in the hopes that he will marry Lucynell.
C
Mrs. Crater says she values her daughter more than anything in the world, but then she gives her away for a car. ✓ Correct
D
Mrs. Crater claims that she would not give her daughter away for anything, when in fact she gives her away for nothing at all.
11

Which type of Southern gothic character is represented in O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own”?

A
religious fundamentalist
B
isolated lower class
C
inexplicably violent person
D
racially intolerant person
12

Read the excerpt from Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”“It’s nothing so sweet,” Mr. Shiftlet continued, “as a boy’s mother. She taught him his first prayers at her knee, she give him love when no other would, she told him what was right and what wasn’t, and she seen that he done the right thing. Son,” he said, “I never rued a day in my life like the one I rued when I left that old mother of mine.”What is ironic about Mr. Shiftlet’s comments?

A
He discusses his mother although he doesn’t seem to actually have a mother.
B
He has picked up a hitchhiker who has run away from his mother.
C
He speaks about morals after having just abandoned his wife at a roadside diner.
D
He clearly has no regrets about having left his mother when he was a younger man.
13

Read the excerpt from Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”He was more depressed than ever as he drove on by himself. The late afternoon had grown hot and sultry and the country had flattened out. Deep in the sky a storm was preparing very slowly and without thunder as if it meant to drain every drop of air from the earth before it broke. There were times when Mr. Shiftlet preferred not to be alone. He felt too that a man with a car had a responsibility to others and he kept his eye out for a hitch-hiker. Occasionally he saw a sign that warned: “Drive carefully. The life you save may be your own.”Which statement most accurately represents the excerpt’s larger idea?

A
Beauty and truth appear in unexpected places.
B
Social isolation may lead people to act immorally.
C
Getting what you want may not make you happy.
D
You may not get everything that you have bargained for.
14

Which excerpt from “The Life You Save May Be Your Own” contains an example of figurative language?

A
She was ravenous for a son-in-law.
B
The old woman agreed with him that this was so.
C
“Teach her to say something else,” the old woman said.
D
The old woman said she would give him the money.
15

Read the excerpt from Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”The daughter could not see far in front of her and continued to play with her fingers. Although the old woman lived in this desolate spot with only her daughter and she had never seen Mr. Shiftlet before, she could tell, even from a distance, that he was a tramp and no one to be afraid of. His left coat sleeve was folded up to show there was only half an arm in it and his gaunt figure listed slightly to the side as if the breeze were pushing him.The characters in the excerpt are an example of

A
the inexplicably violent.
B
religious fundamentalists.
C
the racially intolerant.
D
people with disabilities.
16

Read the excerpt from Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”Mr. Shiftlet was so shocked that for about a hundred feet he drove along slowly with the door stiff open. A cloud, the exact color of the boy’s hat and shaped like a turnip, had descended over the sun, and another, worse looking, crouched behind the car. Mr. Shiftlet felt that the rottenness of the world was about to engulf him. He raised his arm and let it fall again to his breast. “Oh Lord!” he prayed. “Break forth and wash the slime from this earth!”Which best describes the irony of the excerpt?

A
Mr. Shiftlet has just deceived an old woman for personal gain, and yet he does not think he’s part of the “rottenness of the world.”
B
Mr. Shiftlet should never have given a ride to the young boy, who clearly was up to no good and should have been at home with his loving mother.
C
Mr. Shiftlet observes that the color of the cloud is the same as the boy’s hat, a grim reminder that the boy is part of a rotten world.
D
Mr. Shiftlet is unable to close the door of his car, which essentially forces him to invite the evilness of the world into his car.
17

Read the excerpt from Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”He was more depressed than ever as he drove on by himself. The late afternoon had grown hot and sultry and the country had flattened out.Which best describes the irony in the excerpt?

A
The heat of the day is indicative of Mr. Shiftlet’s negative feelings of his life and situation.
B
Mr. Shiftlet would have preferred to travel with his new wife, Lucynell, but she has left him at the diner.
C
The young boy rejected Mr. Shiftlet’s offer to give him a ride, and now the man finds himself alone.
D
Mr. Shiftlet has the car he wanted and managed to rid himself of his wife, but he still is not happy.
18

Read the excerpt from Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”The ugly words settled in Mr. Shiftlet’s head like a group of buzzards in the top of a tree.The simile in this excerpt compares

A
Mr. Shiftlet to a group of buzzards.
B
the ugly words to the top of the tree.
C
a group of buzzards to the top of a tree.
D
the ugly words to a group of buzzards.
19

Which excerpt from “The Life You Save May Be Your Own” contains an example of a simile?

A
After a few minutes there was a guffawing peal of thunder from behind and fantastic raindrops, like tin-can tops, crashed over the rear of Mr. Shiftlet’s car.
B
“Fifteen, sixteen,” the old woman said. The girl was nearly thirty but because of her innocence it was impossible to guess.
C
“I was raised thataway and there ain’t a thing I can do about it. My old mother taught me how to do.”
D
“That wouldn’t hardly pay for more than the gas and the hotel,” he said. “It wouldn’t feed her.”

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