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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 is Diz' ex-wife's name?

2. How does Linda feel about her father's new marriage?

3. Who calls Diz at The Shamrock wanting to meet to talk?

4. How had Sam hoped to get enough money to entice his young wife to stay with him?

5. Who is the dead man at the ballpark?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Dismas Hardy and what is the state of his life as the novel begins?

2. How do the people who cared for Eddie Cochran seem to be managing during the time after his funeral?

3. How does Dismas get involved in another murder investigation while with Abe?

4. What is the dilemma facing the funeral director if Eddie's death is ruled a suicide?

5. Why is Father Cavanaugh's quasi-confession to Dismas so important?

6. What is the premise of DEAD IRISH?

7. What does Dismas learn from Linda Polk about the troubles of Army Distributing?

8. What is one line of thinking for why Eddie may have killed himself in the parking lot at Arturo Cruz' business?

9. Why does Father Cavanaugh think he is responsible for Eddie's death?

10. What does Dismas speculate about Sam's wife, Nika's, possible interest in Eddie Cochran?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the role of the family in DEAD IRISH. What does it mean for each of the main characters? How does the family evolve in its support of each other? How typical is this family of most Irish families living during the late-20th century in America?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in the story. Which of the characters are lonely? Are they all lonely in some way? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

Essay Topic 3

Explain the taboo of homosexuality that still existed at the time DEAD IRISH was written in 1989. Compare and contrast homosexuality in America during the late 20th century to homosexuality in America today. What major changes have occurred concerning the social attitude towards homosexuality in both positive and negative ways?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,182 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample