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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. What did Joan conclude while visiting the general store?

2. What gift did the fish market owner give Joan at the end of the season?

3. At the end of Chapter 14, Safe Harbor, who did Joan realize was planning to live with her in the cottage?

4. How long did Joan spend alone on the island with the seals in Chapter 15, Wild and Salty?

5. What beverage did Joan buy at the general store?

Short Essay Questions

1. What truths about her life were revealed to Joan during her trip to the seal island in Chapter 15, Wild and Salty?

2. What did Joan Anderson expect to learn from the psychoanalyst, and what did Joan Erikson tell her when she didn't learn what she expected?

3. When Joan's husband mentioned retirement at the beginning of Chapter 14, Safe Harbor, how did his idea of retirement differ from Joan's?

4. What did Joan give her husband for his retirement, and what did her gift symbolize?

5. How did a sign in front of the Methodist Church make Joan reflect upon her marriage?

6. In Chapter 12, Low Tide, how did reflecting upon the women in her family inspire Joan?

7. How did Joan ultimately earn the money to fix her broken hot water heater?

8. Why did Joan's nephew send guests to stay with Joan, and how did Joan feel about being part of her nephew's project?

9. What did Joan find several workmen doing at her home upon her return from her bike ride, and what did the fact that her husband was paying for the repairs indicate about him and their marriage?

10. How did Joan's family spend Memorial Day weekend in Chapter 13, Treading Water, and how did Joan make this holiday different than previous holidays?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the concept of sacrifice in "A Year by the Sea." What did Joan think she sacrificed during her marriage? What might her husband think he sacrificed during their marriage? Is the concept of sacrifice a gender issue in the book, i.e. is the author saying that women sacrifice themselves and their desires for their husbands and children? Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the depiction of family and community in the book. When Joan isolated herself on Cape Cod, who became her family and her community? Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Joan Anderson's technique of using epigraphs to introduce each chapter in "A Year by the Sea." How did the epigraphs relate to the titles of each chapter? How did the epigraphs relate to the content of each chapter? How did the epigraphs relate to Joan and her life?

(see the answer keys)

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