Absalom, Absalom! Quiz Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Who writes the note that Quentin receives at the beginning of the novel?

Rosa

When Quentin meets with Rosa, what does she call the musty room where they sit to talk?

the office

What is Rosa's attitude as she begins to tell the story of Thomas Sutpen?

bitterness

Who seemed to have Thomas Sutpen's temperament?

Judith Signup and view all the answers

Where at the plantation did Henry kill Judith's fiancé?

in front of the gates Signup and view all the answers

What does Thomas use to buy his acreage of land?

Spanish coins Signup and view all the answers

What do Thomas and his slaves wear as they build the plantation?

nothing Signup and view all the answers

What did General Compson loan to Thomas to begin his plantation?

seed cotton Signup and view all the answers

Out of the 100 people that were invited to Thomas and Ellen's wedding, how many came?

10 Signup and view all the answers

What did the townspeople throw when Thomas and Ella emerged from the church after getting married?

dirt Signup and view all the answers

How did Rosa's mother die?

childbirth Signup and view all the answers

How did Rosa plan to rescue Judith from the Sutpen fate?

by marrying Thomas Signup and view all the answers

After Rosa's aunt left, how often did Rosa go to Sutpen's plantation?

once a year Signup and view all the answers

Who was it assumed that Charles Bon would marry?

Judith Signup and view all the answers

How did Rosa's father kill himself?

starved himself Signup and view all the answers

Whose appearance and behavior did Henry imitate?

Charles's Signup and view all the answers

Where was Charles keeping a mistress?

New Orleans Signup and view all the answers

What rank was Charles promoted to in the Confederate army?

lieutenant Signup and view all the answers

Mr. Compson hints that Henry may have wanted to see Charles and Judith married because Henry was ___

sexually attracted to both Signup and view all the answers

What was Judith's wedding gown made from?

rags Signup and view all the answers

Who told Rosa that Henry had shot Charles?

Wash Signup and view all the answers

After Charles was shot, what was Judith found holding?

a photo of herself Signup and view all the answers

After the Civil War, Thomas seemed ___.

empty Signup and view all the answers

When Thomas realized that the plantation could not be saved, what did he do to Rosa?

insulted her Signup and view all the answers

According to Rosa, how long has someone been hiding at the plantation?

four years Signup and view all the answers

What are students at Harvard always asking Quentin to explain?

the South Signup and view all the answers

What did Wash use to kill Thomas?

rusty scythe Signup and view all the answers

Who retrieved Charles Etienne de St. Valery Bon and brought him to the plantation?

Clytie Signup and view all the answers

How did Judith die?

yellow fever Signup and view all the answers

When Rosa returns to the plantation, how long has she been away?

43 years Signup and view all the answers

Who passed down the stories of Thomas's life?

General Compson Signup and view all the answers

Where was Thomas born?

West Virginia Signup and view all the answers

How did Thomas earn the hand of the daughter of the landowner he worked for?

ending a slave revolt Signup and view all the answers

Why did Henry abandon his first wife?

she was part black Signup and view all the answers

What does Wash Jones call Thomas?

the Kernel Signup and view all the answers

Who do Quentin and Shreve think poisoned Charles against Thomas?

Charles's mother Signup and view all the answers

In Quentin and Shreve's imaginations, who saved Henry from wounds he received in the war?

Charles Signup and view all the answers

When Rosa returned to the plantation with Quentin, who tried to stop her from going up the stairs?

Clytie Signup and view all the answers

Who was in the photo that Judith found in Charles's pocket after he was shot?

Charles's mistress Signup and view all the answers

Quentin and Shreve conclude that Charles must have thought that ___ when he went to the plantation the night he was killed.

Henry would kill him Signup and view all the answers

When Quentin and Rosa go to the plantation, how does Quentin get in?

window Signup and view all the answers

Why did Henry Sutpen finally come home?

to die Signup and view all the answers

Who escorts Rosa back to her carriage?

Jim Signup and view all the answers

What is in the emergency closet that Clytie has prepared in case the police come for Henry?

kerosene and rags Signup and view all the answers

Shreve speculates that the ___ of the world will one day overrun everything.

Jim Bonds Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Characters and Relationships

Rosa writes the note received by Quentin at the novel's beginning, establishing a key narrative link.
Rosa exhibits bitterness as she narrates the story of Thomas Sutpen, reflecting her emotional turmoil.
Judith, a central character, inherits her father's ruthless temperament, deepening family complexities.
Henry kills Judith's fiancé in front of the plantation gates, a pivotal act highlighting family rivalries.

Setting and Plot Points

The musty room where Rosa and Quentin converse is described as "the office," symbolizing the confinement of their conversation.
Thomas Sutpen acquires his land using Spanish coins, an indication of his cunning and resourcefulness.
During the plantation's construction, Thomas and his slaves are noted to wear nothing, illustrating the harshness of laboring conditions.

Events Surrounding the Sutpen Family

General Compson loans Thomas seed cotton to initiate his plantation, showcasing the support system among characters.
Only 10 out of 100 wedding invitees attend Thomas and Ellen's marriage, depicting societal dynamics and antagonism.
Dirt is thrown at Thomas and Ella after their wedding, symbolizing the town's bitterness towards them.

Symbolism and Themes

Rosa's mother's death occurs during childbirth, contributing to themes of maternal loss and familial burdens.
Rosa's desire to save Judith from the Sutpen legacy involves marrying Thomas, showcasing desperate measures against familial fate.
After the Civil War, Thomas's emptiness reflects the decay of values and wealth post-conflict.

Key Events and Character Actions

Wash, a servant, reveals that Henry shot Charles, unravelling tragic consequences among the characters.
Judith is found holding a photo of herself after Charles's death, emphasizing themes of identity and loss.
Characters like Clytie and Wash play crucial roles in the family's dynamics, with Clytie attempting to protect Rosa from their shared painful history.

Conclusions and Speculations

Quentin and Shreve's discussions speculate on Charles's motivations, revealing deeper tensions within the family.
Rosa's return to the plantation occurs after 43 years, underlining the long-lasting impact of trauma and history.
The novel examines perceptions of race, lineage, and identity through Henry's abandonment of his first wife due to her mixed heritage.

Other Notable Details

The emergency closet prepared by Clytie reflects the ongoing unstable situations and potential violence surrounding the Sutpen family.
Shreve's commentary on the "Jim Bonds of the world" hints at broader societal commentary and the cyclical nature of violence and oppression.
The significance of artifacts, such as Judith’s wedding gown made from rags, symbolizes the collapse of idealism and wealth in the Sutpen lineage.

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Test your knowledge of William Faulkner's 'Absalom, Absalom!' with these flashcards. The quiz covers key characters, settings, and themes from the novel. Perfect for students and literature enthusiasts alike!