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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. In Scene 3, what does Father Flynn say some of the boys have?

2. What does Father Flynn say about his fingernails?

3. What does Sister Aloysius say causes nuns to fall like dominoes?

4. How does Sister James say the students feel about Sister Aloysius?

5. In Scene 4, what does Sister Aloysius say she thinks Monsignor Benedict does not know?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Scene 5, what makes Father Flynn have an idea to preach a sermon on intolerance?

2. Why does Father Flynn say even in individual doubt, one is not alone?

3. What does Father Flynn tell the boys is different about shooting from the foul line versus the rest of the basketball game?

4. Why is Sister Aloysius' work with the rosebush similar to her work at the school?

5. In Scene 2, what does Sister Aloysius refer to when she says that every easy choice today has a consequence tomorrow?

6. Why does Sister Aloysius want to see Sister James become more self-confident?

7. When Sister Aloysius says good teachers are never content, what does she mean?

8. Why does Sister Aloysius think the song Frosty the Snowman is heretical?

9. Why does Sister Aloysius say that it makes sense for Father Flynn to take interest in Donald Muller?

10. How do we know that this play is set in 1964?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Parables are used in a number of ways throughout the play. We see them in the sermons Father Flynn delivers and in the play itself. Describe what a parable is, identify at least two parables and the lessons they teach that were given in sermons during the play, and discuss how the play itself fits the model of a parable. What lesson is the play intended to teach?

Essay Topic 2

What are the doubts Sister Aloysius speaks of at the end of the play? Does she doubt Father Flynn's guilt? Is she doubting her position at the school? Does she doubt she's done the right thing by the students in having Father Flynn transferred?

Essay Topic 3

There are so many ways in which doubt is raised throughout the course of the play. In Scene 5, we see a confrontation between Father Flynn and Sister Aloysius, and by the end the audience is left wondering if the battle is more personal than professional. What is your opinion on the confrontation? Is Sister Aloysius simply out to get Father Flynn because of personal differences, or is she truly concerned about his professional role with the students and their well-being? Provide examples to support your opinion.

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