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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 does Michael borrow from Nell?

2. Where do Sean and Sheila get married?

3. When Michael doesn't show up for the Rosary, where do Moran and Rose assume he is?

4. Sheila and Mona send a note to Moran and Rose telling them that Michael is where?

5. What does Mark compare Great Meadow to as he leaves on the train?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Moran make the entire family join him in the ritual of the Rosary?

2. What does Moran do when he finds out Michael quit school?

3. What begins to happen to Moran physically after Maggie brings home her newborn son?

4. What does Mark do that Moran finds ludicrous?

5. What subject infuriates Moran and sparks a fight between he and Rose?

6. How is Maggie's life changed by Rose becoming part of the family?

7. Why is Moran threatened by Rose?

8. In Section 5, what fills the house with joy?

9. What is it about Moran that seems to regulate the mood in the house?

10. As time goes on, what becomes the most important thing in Moran's life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Much of this novel takes place in the past through the use of flashbacks. Why do you think the author worked backwards in such a way rather than chronologically? Do you think these flashbacks helped in the development in the characters and if so, how?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss what you think the moral of the novel might be?

1. Support your analysis with examples from the novel.

2. Make sure to look at both what the reader can glean from the novel as well as what the characters in the story might have learned.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the idea of gender roles as portrayed in the novel.

1. Do you think this novel is portrays women in a positive light? Why or why not?

2. Do you think that the men in the novel show respect to the women in their lives? If so, how? If not, why do you think they disrespect women? Use examples from the novel to support your opinions.

(see the answer keys)

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