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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. How old does Birkin tell Keach he thinks the wall painting is?

2. What kind of tower does the church include with its stone walls?

3. Whose grave is Moon looking for?

4. As he arrives at the church, Thomas Birkin speculates that the area has probably not seen a medieval __________ boom.

5. What is Birkin hired to do?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Who do Kathy, Edgar, and Birkin visit on the way home from Sunday school? What do they give her?

3. Describe Birkin's analysis of his financial situation as he sits in the bell tower at the beginning of Section 2.

4. Who answers the door when Birkin visits the vicarage? What does this person talk about?

5. How does Thomas Birkin arrive in Oxgodby, England? What does he do when he first gets there?

6. What reason does Birkin give for the observation the painting is hidden under paint for a long time? What are some of the reasons he considers the painting is covered so quickly?

7. 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?

8. What is Birkin's aim regarding the painting? What idea does he have of the final picture?

9. After Birkin and Moon depart from their first meeting, what does Birkin think regarding Moon? Why?

10. Describe the church in Oxgodby, England.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At one point Birkin says that he plans making the painting look right and now focusing on recreating it exactly as it was. Write an essay evaluating this approach. Do you think Birkin's approach is in line with Miss Hebron's wishes? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The novel, A Month in the Country, takes place in predominately one location. Think about the idea of journeys in the novel. Is there mental or emotional movement despite the rather stagnant physical movement? Why or why not? Write an essay supporting your claim.

Essay Topic 3

The Keaches and the Ellerbecks are both deeply involved in their respective churches. Write an essay comparing and contrasting the two families, and by extension, the churches they attend.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 800 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample