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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. Why does Gerry Evans say he is going to Spain?

2. What popular song does Gerry Evans dance to with the sisters in Act 2?

3. What does Gerry Evans think Agnes should do for a living?

4. How does Chris feel about her job?

5. What is the first step in swapping possessions in Uncle Jack's village in Uganda?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the Ryangan harvest festival described by Uncle Jack similar to the festival of Lughansa?

2. What phrase did Kate hit upon that comforted her as she tried to understand Uncle Jack's changed attitude toward life since his stay in Ryanda?

3. What does it tell you about Gerry Evans that he says he will check the ignition and sparking plugs of the radio?

4. How did Michael behave as his father, Gerry Evans, had done?

5. There are important facts about the Spanish Civil War that Gerry Evans does not understand. One is that the Popular Front represents a Fascist, rather than a Republican, government. The other is that the Popular Front is anti-Catholic. How is this ignorance on his part ironic?

6. What does Uncle Jack reveal about his ministry in Ryanga when Kate asks if the people gather together for Mass?

7. Why does Gerry Evans decide to go to war in a foreign country?

8. What significance do you make of the fact that the recruiter who enlists Gerry Evans in the war effort is, unnoticed by Gerry Evans until after he is writing his name, a midget?

9. Where did Gerry Evans sign up for military service, and why is that location significant?

10. Maggie asks Michael a riddle about the apples on a tree. What might those apples symbolize?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The radio, "Marconi," has "killed all Christian conversation in this country," according to Kate. It has certainly had a powerful effect on the lives of the Mundy family. Analyze the effect of the radio on the lives of this family. Use examples from the script in your analysis.

Essay Topic 2

Gerry Evans' character is in many ways an act. He pretends to be a salesman, but can't sell. He pretends to be fighting for a noble cause in Spain, but doesn't know for sure what that cause is. In Michael's last glimpse of him, he is imitating Fred Astaire. After his father's war injury, Michael tells us that Gerry Evans cherished the "role" of wounded war veteran. Analyze Gerry Evans' role as almost a husband, and almost a father. Do you see him as evil and harmful? Do you see him as helpless and hopeless? Is there a tragic flaw in his character - or several? If so, what are they?

Essay Topic 3

The character of Uncle Jack has paid a heavy cost in both body and mind to serve the lepers in Ryanga. He has also learned different ways of looking at the world than he had when he left Ireland. Do you see his character as a failure? Why or why not?

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This section contains 1,043 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample