Question

Which statement best explains why Cash made his mother’s coffin on a bevel, or a slight slant and how this will impact its ability to travel?

Answer choices for the above question

A. Cash made the coffin on a bevel because that was the only way he knew how to make a coffin, and it will make it so that people can smell Addie’s body as they travel.

B. Cash made the coffin on a bevel because it makes a neater job, and he loved his mother very much, so he wanted her to have a nice coffin.

C. The coffin is made on a bevel because the animal magnetism of a dead body makes the stress of the wood come at a slant, but this means it will be more difficult to transport the coffin because it’s unbalanced.

D. The coffin is made on a bevel because the joints and seams are made sideways because the body is lying down, but this means that the coffin will be very heavy to carry all the way to Jefferson.

Answer 1

The correct answer is C. The coffin is made on a bevel because the animal magnetism of a dead body makes the stress of the wood come at a slant, but this means it will be more difficult to transport the coffin because it's unbalanced.

Answer 2

The correct answer is C. The coffin is made on a bevel because the animal magnetism of a dead body makes the stress of the wood come at a slant, but this means it will be more difficult to transport the coffin because it’s unbalanced.

In William Faulkner's novel "As I Lay Dying," Cash Bundren makes his mother's coffin on a bevel, or a slight slant. He explains that this is because the animal magnetism of a dead body makes the stress of the wood come at a slant, and making the coffin on a bevel will prevent the wood from splitting. However, this also means that the coffin will be unbalanced, making it more difficult to transport.

The beveled design of the coffin, while serving a practical purpose, creates a challenge for the characters as they transport the coffin to Jefferson. The coffin's unbalanced weight causes it to tilt and slide, making the journey more difficult and dangerous. This adds to the already challenging and arduous nature of the Bundrens' journey, and highlights the difficulties and obstacles that the characters face as they try to carry out Addie's dying wish.