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All the Pretty Horses Study Guide

by Cormac McCarthy

All the Pretty Horses study guide contains a biography of Cormac McCarthy, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

All the Pretty Horses opens with sixteen year-old John Grady Cole mourning the death of his mother's father. Since his grandfather had only one child - John Grady's mother- his death means that the Grady name is buried forever. It also means that the ranch on which he's lived on his entire life now belongs solely to his mother.

An aspiring actress who spends little time in San Angelo, Mrs. Cole decides to sell the ranch. John Grady confronts his mother at dinner, begging her not to sell the property, but she rebuffs his appeal, claiming that the ranch yields no money and that he's too young to run it. John Grady appeals to his father and family lawyer for help, but both make it clear that his mother will determine the fate of the ranch.

His…

Read the full All the Pretty Horses Summary

• All the Pretty Horses Summary
• About All the Pretty Horses
• Character List
• Glossary of Terms
• Major Themes
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 1 - Section 1 (pp. 1-31)
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 1 - Section 2 (pp. 32-96)
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 2
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 3
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 4 - Section 1 (pp. 217 - 241)
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 4 - Section 2 (pp. 241-302)
• Related Links on All the Pretty Horses
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources

• All the Pretty Horses: Major Themes
• All the Pretty Horses: Essays
• All the Pretty Horses: Questions
• All the Pretty Horses: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
• Cormac McCarthy: Biography