Southern Gothic

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

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.

Read the excerpt from Flannery O'Connor's "The Life You Save May Be Your Own." "A body and a spirit," he repeated. "The body, lady, is like a house: it don't go anywhere; but the spirit, lady, is like a automobile: always on the move, always . . ." How does the figurative language used by Mr. Shiftlet develop his character? a. The imagery reveals that Mr. Shiftlet is an extremely cruel and inexplicably violent nature. b. The imagery emphasizes that he is a poorly educated individual from the rural South. c. The imagery highlights that Mr. Shiftlet received his disability while fighting overseas during World War II. d. The imagery underscores Mr. Shiftlet's restlessness and his reluctance to remain in one place.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 b. she had never seen c. his left coat sleeve d. folded up