As I Lay Dying

This flexible-use quiz is designed for reading comprehension assessment and activity needs in classroom, home-schooling and other settings. Questions connect to the text’s plot, characters, and themes — and align with the content and chapter organization in the rest of this study guide. Use quizzes as pre-reading hooks, reading checks, discussion starters, entrance/exit “tickets,” small group activities, writing activities, and lessons on finding evidence and support in a text.

Depth of Knowledge Levels: Questions require respondents to demonstrate ability to: 

1. Recall and Understand Content (e.g., who, what, where, when) 
2. Apply and Analyze Ideas (e.g., how and why)

1. What does Cash do to prepare for Addie’s death?

A) call the local minister

B) make her coffin

C) feed her liquor to dull the pain

D) find a burial plot

2. Which of Addie’s sons likes to perform thrilling but dangerous feats on his horse?

A) Darl

B) Cash

C) Vardaman

D) Jewel

3. Which of these is NOT a reason one or more of the Bundrens wants to travel to Jefferson?

A) to procure an abortion

B) to visit a dentist

C) to sell Jewel’s horse

D) to bury Addie with her ancestors

4. In Cora’s view, which character is the only redeeming member of the Bundren clan?

A) Anse

B) Darl

C) Dewey Dell

D) Jewel

5. To what does Anse attribute the bad luck that’s afflicted the Bundren clan?