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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 does Moran explain life during the war compared to his life now?

2. Where is the wedding reception located?

3. Moran has a hatred and fear of what two things?

4. How does Rose meet Moran?

5. Who does Moran speak to about the possibility of introducing another woman into the household?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Moran angry that more than half his children left Ireland to work in England?

2. What does Moran realize as McQuaid leaves the house?

3. What are Moran's feelings about Rose during their post office courtship?

4. How does Moran justify his resentment towards McQuaid?

5. Why does Rose stop going to the evening mail group?

6. Why does Moran speak so highly about the war?

7. What does McQuaid mean when he says, "Some people can not bear to come in second"?

8. What conclusion does Moran come to about Rose Brady?

9. Why is money a sensitive subject between Moran and McQuaid?

10. Name one way in that Moran and Rose are very different.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the rural setting of Great Meadows and the urban setting of London and Dublin.

1. What could these two different types of settings represent?

2. Would the story have been as powerful had it taken place outside of Ireland? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast Moran from the beginning of the novel to the end. Does he change? If so, is it a positive change or a negative one and why? If you don't believe he changed; explain whether or not you think he needed to. Use examples from the novel to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

McQuaid played a big role in Moran's life even though he was only a minor character in the book.

1. Discuss what McQuaid might have represented to Moran and support your answer with examples from the novel.

2. Do you think Moran deciding to end his friendship with McQuaid was the right thing to do? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 736 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample