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

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Birkin's conversation with Keach, what will help or has helped Birkin decide the age of the wall painting?

2. When Thomas Birkin enters the church for the first time, he finds that it has what type of floor?

3. Who is paying for Birkin's work in the church?

4. Who invites Birkin to Sunday School for the first time in the church?

5. What does Birkin do after Keach visits him for the first time?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Birkin think about Alice Keach after their first meeting?

2. Who approaches Thomas Birkin when he first arrives in Oxgodby, England? What does this person offer Birkin? How does Birkin respond?

3. Describe the wall monument that Birkin finds in the church.

4. How many times has Birkin performed the task of uncovering a wall painting?

5. How do Moon and Birkin respond to each other when they first meet? What do they talk about?

6. Describe the church in Oxgodby, England.

7. Why is Birkin hired and who is paying him for his work?

8. Why does Kathy Ellerbeck come to visit Birkin at the church? What does she bring?

9. What does Birkin think about after Keach leaves in Section 1? What decisions does he come to?

10. While Thomas Birkin is at the station at the beginning of the novel, who does he see looking at him? What does he imagine that this person is thinking?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mossop's character is only occasionally mentioned in the novel. Write an essay examining the role of his character.

Essay Topic 2

Birkin falls in love with Alice, but is unable to act on his feelings. Write an essay examining the idea of love within the context of the novel. How is love defined? Which characters does love affect?

Essay Topic 3

The entire novel revolves around the work that Birkin is doing on the painting. Write an essay exploring the roles of the painting. Why is it so important? How does it affect the people that see it?

(see the answer keys)

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