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A Horseman in the Sky Trivia Quiz

This is a typical story by Ambrose Bierce, who was anything but a typical author. He was a cynical storyteller and a master of irony.

A multiple-choice quiz by srfield99. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
srfield99

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
286,970

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
283

Last 3 plays: Guest 172 (3/10), Guest 72 (3/10), Guest 97 (0/10).

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. At the beginning of the story, a young Union soldier lay in a laurel bush with his hand on his rifle. What crime had he committed? Hint

He had enlisted while under age.

He was a deserter.

He was asleep on duty.

He had stolen rations.

NEXT>

2. Why was the soldier, Carter Druse, positioned in that particular spot? Hint

He was hiding from his own outfit.

All of these

He had been wounded.

He was a sentry.

NEXT>

3. Carter Druse was only a few miles from his home in western Virginia. What had his wealthy father said when Carter had announced that he would join the Union army? Hint

"Son, go with God and make he protect you and help you to protect yourself."

"There is no need to go. Others of less social standing may take your place."

"Well, go sir, and whatever may occur do what you conceive to be your duty."

"Sir, you make me proud. Our family honor rests on your shoulders."

NEXT>

4. Carter, from his vantage point, eventually spied a horseman on a distant cliff. Which of these phrases is used to describe the horseman? Hint

He was "an equestrian statue of impressive dignity."

All of these

He had "the repose of a Grecian god."

"The grey costume harmonized with its arial background."

NEXT>

5. Eventually, the horseman turned and looked directly at Druse, though he couldn't actually see him. What was Druse's reaction? Hint

Druse looked quickly away.

Druse was terrified.

Druse was angered.

Druse was very relieved.

NEXT>

6. Why could Carter not hope to capture the horseman? Hint

He was too afraid.

Carter was on foot and could not get close enough.

He had orders to "take no prisoners".

If he tried, the horseman would ride off and warn his entire camp of the enemy.

NEXT>

7. Druse fired his weapon and shot the horseman.

True

False

NEXT>

8. What amazing sight does one of Druse's superiors witness from the bottom of the valley? Hint

A man riding a horse through the air

A riderless horse, falling through space

Druse tumbling down the side of the mountain

A Confederate soldier, clinging to a tree root, hundreds of feet in the air

NEXT>

9. Who did the "Horseman in the Sky" turn out to be? Hint

one of Druse's own company

an innocent man, not committed to either side

a hallucination

Carter Druse's father

NEXT>

10. What is another of Bierce's stories that is set during the Civil War and has a shocking surprise ending? Hint

The Stranger

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

The Boarded Window

The Man and the Snake

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. At the beginning of the story, a young Union soldier lay in a laurel bush with his hand on his rifle. What crime had he committed?

Answer: He was asleep on duty.

"He was asleep at his post of duty. But if detected, he would be dead shortly afterward, death being the just and legal penalty of his crime." Wow, that is strict!

2. Why was the soldier, Carter Druse, positioned in that particular spot?

Answer: He was a sentry.

He was a lone sentry, guarding five Union regiments which were resting in the woods below. They were planning an attack on a nearby camp of Confederate soldiers for the following day.

3. Carter Druse was only a few miles from his home in western Virginia. What had his wealthy father said when Carter had announced that he would join the Union army?

Answer: "Well, go sir, and whatever may occur do what you conceive to be your duty."

His father was actually against the idea and said that they would talk more about it if they both survived until the end of the war.

4. Carter, from his vantage point, eventually spied a horseman on a distant cliff. Which of these phrases is used to describe the horseman?

Answer: All of these

It was quite a description. The horseman certainly made an impression on Carter Druse.

5. Eventually, the horseman turned and looked directly at Druse, though he couldn't actually see him. What was Druse's reaction?

Answer: Druse was terrified.

"Carter Druse grew pale; he shook in every limb. This courageous gentleman and hardy soldier was near swooning from intensity of emotion."

6. Why could Carter not hope to capture the horseman?

Answer: If he tried, the horseman would ride off and warn his entire camp of the enemy.

Carter would have spoiled the whole plan to capture the Confederate camp if the horseman had been alerted to his presence.

7. Druse fired his weapon and shot the horseman.

Answer: False

The story never says that the horseman was shot. Druse does fire his rifle and later tells an officer that he "fired at a horse".

8. What amazing sight does one of Druse's superiors witness from the bottom of the valley?

Answer: A man riding a horse through the air

"Straight upright sat the rider, in a military fashion, with a firm seat in the saddle...From his bare head, his long hair streamed upward, waving like a plume." That must have been quite a sight!

9. Who did the "Horseman in the Sky" turn out to be?

Answer: Carter Druse's father

Carter Druse had put his duty before the life of his own father. He had recognized his father before he fired but recalled his father telling him to go and do what he must do. His father was fighting for the Confederacy.

10. What is another of Bierce's stories that is set during the Civil War and has a shocking surprise ending?

Answer: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is possibly Bierce's best known story. I won't give away the ending.

Source: Author srfield99

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

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