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. Who tells Quoyle about the Los Angeles riots?

2. How does Tert Card like his champagne?

3. How is Nutbeem's bathroom unusual?

4. Who finally tells Bunny that Petal is dead?

5. What is one surprising use for knots?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way is Quoyle's discovery of the body important to the narrative?

2. In what ways are contrasts important in Chapter 36 of The Shipping News?

3. What convincing evidence is there in this chapter of Quoyle's aptness for the new life he is making at Killick-Claw?

4. What is the outcome of Bunny's attack on the teacher?

5. Contrast the growing relationship between Quoyle and Wavey with that each experienced with their previous partners.

6. Comment on the destruction of the green house on the point.

7. Comment on the way the writer uses the psychology of memory in this chapter.

8. In what way has Quoyle reached a turning point in his life?

9. In what way is Bunny's attention-seeking during the restaurant dinner important?

10. Why is Quoyle uncertain about marrying Wavey?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the way the idea of personal freedom is dealt with in THE SHIPPING NEWS.

1) How would you define personal freedom? Does personal freedom imply that there are no responsibilities? What interferes with the exercise of personal freedom?

2)Discuss these ideas with focus on three characters from THE SHIPPING NEWS.

You should focus on three characters, giving equal discussion time to each.

Essay Topic 2

'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 3

Write an essay about the important contrasts that are represented in THE SHIPPING NEWS.

1) Focus on contrasting values and attitudes. In what ways are those in Newfoundland different from what Quoyle has left behind? Illustrate by focusing on three characters and make frequent reference to the text.

2) Consider the contrast between life in Killick-Claw and that which Partridge describes in his phone call from Los Angeles.

3) Discuss the ways in which these contrasts support the themes of the novel.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,229 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample