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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 Olivia Davenport tell Tim?

2. What does the dog do when Tim reads scripture out loud?

3. What season is arriving during Chapter 8?

4. How much does Miss Sadie weigh?

5. What happens when Tim lets Barnabas out the back door?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do you think of the relationship between Tim and Dooley by Chapter 12?

2. How does Tim come to have a black dog? What is special about the dog?

3. In Chapter 5, how do readers see that Father Tim is more than just a rector to the people of Mitford?

4. From an outsider's perspective, do you think Father Tim should feel lonely based on what you read in Chapters 1-4?

5. Describe Tim's medical problem as addressed in Chapters 1-4.

6. Compare and contrast the characters of Emma and Puny.

7. What events in Chapters 9-12 lead readers to think more is going on than meets the eye?

8. Describe the town of Mitford from what you know after reading Chapters 1-4.

9. Why does Olivia want to read the Bible to people at Mitford Hospital?

10. What does Sadie find in her attic? Why is this significant?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The concept of companionship is present throughout Karon's novel. What can readers learn about Karon's characters when they are in relationships with others? Be sure to give specific examples.

Essay Topic 2

Identify the climax of this story and the series of events leading up to the climax. How do characters respond to the climax? What did Karon include in her story to insure that the climax would be as powerful and meaningful as possible?

Essay Topic 3

How does Karon incorporate the concept of man versus self in her novel? Which character do you think is the best example of man versus self, and why?

(see the answer keys)

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