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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 is Father Schwartz first name?

2. Who is the first character introduced in "Absolution"?

3. Who is waiting to see Father Schwartz at the start of Chapter 2?

4. How does Father Schwartz know Rudolph's father?

5. How does Rudolph plan to avoid taking communion the day after he confesses to Father Schwartz in Chapter 2?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Father Schwartz do on Saturdays after confession? What happens as he passes the drug store that increases his sadness?

2. Why did Rudolph's father tell him he had to go to confession three days before Rudolph came to see Father Schwartz in his home? Did Rudolph obey his father?

3. What made Rudolph uncomfortable as he sat waiting to confess at the start of Chapter 2?

4. What did Rudolph try to force himself to do as he waited at the confessional in Chapter 2?

5. What words does Father Schwartz use when addressing Rudolph in the confessional in Chapter 2?

6. What object in Father Schwartz's room reminds him of "gruesome labyrinths" (1)? Why does he stare at this object in the first place?

7. What "easy sins" did Rudolph confess to Father Schwartz in Chapter 2?

8. Who is Blatchford Sarnmenington? What happens when Rudolph thinks of him?

9. Why did Rudolph stay and confess despite his urge to leave while he waited at the confessional in Chapter 2?

10. Who is Rudolph Miller? How does Father Schwartz behave when he first comes to his house in Chapter 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay examining the confessional as a symbol in "Absolution." In what scenes does the confessional appear? What is the context? How does this symbol develop the narrative?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about the author of "Absolution." Who is he? What else has he written? How is "Absolution" similar or different from his other works?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Fitzgerald’s focus on the theme of entrapment as presented in the story.

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