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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. The narrator says that after the death of the blind man’s wife, he was left with half of what kind of coin?

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

3. What Irish actor does the blind man quote in saying “When I drink water, I drink water. When I drink whiskey, I drink whiskey”?

4. Where in Portugal does the television show feature a cathedral?

5. What is the narrator’s response when his wife asks as she comes downstairs, “What do I smell?”

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the narrator ask Robert regarding cathedrals in the story? Why? How does Robert respond?

2. How does the author describe his wife’s poetry in “Cathedral”?

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

4. What is signified by the narrator’s final lines in the story?

5. What are the narrator’s thoughts after his wife falls asleep, leaving him alone with Robert?

6. How are the narrator’s perceptions of race illustrated in “Cathedral”?

7. How many drinks do the narrator, his wife, and Robert have before dinner? What do they discuss?

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

9. How is the narrator’s “blind drawing” experience described?

10. How are the characters in “Cathedral” representative of Raymond Carver’s style?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Define character action, obstacle, and objective and discuss these elements as they apply to the narrator of “Cathedral.” What is the narrator’s goal in the story? Is he successful in achieving his objectives? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the theme of learning in “Cathedral.” What is the importance of learning as an individual? How is this reflected in the story? Do you think that the narrator effectively “learns something” by the end of the story?

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