View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What complicates the family's stay at the motel?

2. How much money did Wavey's father make on berries in the previous year?

3. What injuries did Dennis sustain during the storm crisis on The Polar Grinder?

4. Who introduces Quoyle and Wavey?

5. What do Billy and Quoyle find?

Short Essay Questions

1. Account for Quoyle's cherished hope that he was, in fact, a changeling.

2. What insight into Jack Buggit does the harbormaster convey to Quoyle?

3. What does the green house on the point mean to the aunt?

4. What is indicated by the image of Quoyle looking at the horizon?

5. What is interesting about the idea of the aunt and Quoyle digging a garden patch?

6. In what way is the aunt's reaction to the appearance of the distant Quoyle different from her nephew's?

7. How does Annie Proulx utilize symbolism in the account of Billy's and Quoyle's journey back from Gaze Island?

8. What change in Quoyle occurs following the incident of his article on the 'Hitler yacht'?

9. Why do we feel at this point that there is cause to be optimistic about Quoyle's growing friendship with Wavey?

10. What is the significance of Agnis' relationship with Irene Warren?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

'One problem with THE SHIPPING NEWS is that we are given full insight into only one character: Quoyle.' Is this true and is it a problem? Do you consider the novel to have a full cast of three-dimensional characters whom we care about, or is it chiefly concerned with showing us the 'uncoiling' of Quoyle?

In your answer, refer to Quoyle and three other characters.

Essay Topic 2

Every character in THE SHIPPING NEWS deals with some kind of adversity. Choose TWO characters.

1) Explain the adversity the characters experience and describe the way in which they deal with it.

2) Discuss differences in the characters' approach and comment on the outcomes of their adversity.

3) What do we learn about the effect of adversity on human lives?

Essay Topic 3

Identify two themes in THE SHIPPING NEWS. Discuss the ways in which the novelist uses character and circumstance to explore these themes. You should focus on Quoyle, Agnis and Jack Buggit.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,023 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample