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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 Gerry Evans think Agnes should do for a living?

2. What does Chris do when Gerry Evans dances with Agnes and Maggie?

3. Why does Michael say the characters dance with their eyes half closed?

4. How many people are at the house for dinner in Act 2?

5. When does Gerry Evans stop visiting the Mundys?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why might Agnes have believed Rose could not get work in the factory?

2. What news does Rose bring her family about the boy who was burned during the Lughnasa fires?

3. Who does Maggie forget to count when she is calculating people they must feed for dinner?

4. How does Rose trick Agnes and get away from her?

5. What is Michael writing to ask Santa Claus to bring, and why is the gift he wants significant?

6. 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?

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

8. What does Uncle Jack reveal about his ministry in Ryanga when Maggie asks if the people there gathered in his church for ceremonies?

9. What do you make of the kites as a symbol or metaphor, and of the fact that they wouldn't fly?

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

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

What difference does the fate of the Sweeney boy, who was burned in the festival of Lughnasa, make to the story? Cite what was believed to have happened and what actually happened. Why do you think this detail is included in the play? Is the boy a metaphor? If so, what does he represent?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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