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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 Father Flynn say is on the other side of the glass from happy, untroubled people when he delivers the sermon in the opening scene?

2. In Scene 2, who is described as watchful, reserved, and unsentimental?

3. What does Sister Aloysius say boys are made of?

4. What does Sister Aloysius say Sister James will trade for a warm look?

5. In the opening scene of the play, Father Flynn describes the sailor's dilemma as what?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. In Scene 4, why is Sister Aloysius trying to protect the rosebush from frost even though there hasn't been any frost?

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

5. Why does Father Flynn compare the sailor's despair to a crisis of faith?

6. Why does Sister Aloysius say she cannot afford an excessively innocent teacher?

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

8. Why does Father Flynn say it is okay for him to wear his nails a little long?

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

10. What differs in Sister Aloysius' story about Sister Veronica tripping over the fallen limb that she tells Mr. McGinn versus what she tells Father Flynn?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Several times throughout the play we see characters performing typical daily routines, such as pruning a rosebush, listening to the radio, or talking to a basketball team. Yet not a word in this play is wasted. Each action is meant to reveal something about the characters. Write and essay examining two routine actions seen in the play and discuss what they reveal about the character performing them.

Essay Topic 2

Doubt: A Parable contains several instances of symbolism, such as Father Flynn's fingernails, the crows harassing Father Flynn, the pruning of the rosebush, etc. Choose two symbols from the play. Discuss what each of them represents and provide evidence from the play.

Essay Topic 3

Why does the author use the narrative technique of parables more than once in the play? What purpose does this repetition serve? Why is the play itself a parable? What characteristics of a parable does it have and what is the intended lesson?

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