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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. Where does the blind man put his hand as the narrator begins to draw in the story?

2. How does the narrator’s wife look at him when he turns on the television during the talk with the blind man after dinner?

3. What did the narrator’s wife wash down all the pills from the medicine cabinet with while she was at Travis A.F.B.?

4. Where does the narrator sit when he returns to the living room with a pen and paper?

5. Regarding the view from the train, the narrator says, “going to New York, you should sit” where on the train?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the narrator describe his wife’s last in-person meeting with the blind man?

2. Where does the rising action take place in “Cathedral”?

3. How is the beginning of the television show about the church described?

4. What does the narrator offer to Robert after his wife passes out? How does Robert respond?

5. What does the blind man suggest when he feels the drawing is complete? How does the narrator respond?

6. When and where was “Cathedral” first published? What awards was it nominated for?

7. How does the narrator’s wife respond when he turns on the television? What conversation ensues?

8. How does the narrator describe the scene once his wife has gone upstairs after dinner?

9. How does the narrator describe his experience in the final lines of the story?

10. How is the theme of creativity illustrated through the protagonist in the beginning of “Cathedral”?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the character of Robert in “Cathedral.” How old does Robert appear to be? What does the narrator remark about his facial hair? How is Robert dressed? How does Robert differ from the narrator of the story?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and discuss the narrator’s wife in “Cathedral.” How old do you approximate this character to be? What qualities does the wife exhibit through her actions in the story? Based upon the author’s dialogue, how would you characterize the narrator’s relationship with his wife?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of isolation and alienation as applied to the protagonist of “Cathedral.” In what ways does the narrator describe a life that is isolated from those around him? How is this illustrated in the “after-dinner” scene in the living room?

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This section contains 953 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample