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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. Who teaches the physical education and religion classes?

2. When did William London's nose start to bleed?

3. In his first sermon, what does Father Flynn say can be as powerful and sustaining as certainty?

4. What does Father Flynn tell the boys that a routine will do for them?

5. What does Father Flynn say was his reason for meeting with Donald Muller?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Scene 2, what is Sister Aloysius talking about when she asks: what good is a gift when it is left in the box?

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

3. In Scene 5, what two things about Father Flynn shock Sister Aloysius?

4. In Scene 4, why does Sister Aloysius say that she cannot live her life in innocence?

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

6. Why does Sister Aloysius think William London is headed for trouble?

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

8. Why does Sister Aloysius say she cannot close her eyes to the situation with Father Flynn and Donald Muller?

9. Why does Father Flynn say it's important to have a routine for shooting a free throw?

10. Why does Father Flynn say it is dangerous to think at the foul line?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of instances of compassion in this play. Compassion is displayed by characters we don't expect compassion from, and for characters we aren't certain deserve compassion. Write an essay discussing the ways in which compassion is used in this play. Who shows compassion and towards whom? Is the compassion warranted? From whom do we see unexpected compassion?

Essay Topic 2

What do Father Flynn's long fingernails tells us about him? What do they represent? How does Sister Aloysius feel about his fingernails? Why are Father Flynn's long fingernails significant?

Essay Topic 3

Scene 6 is extremely short, yet it serves an important purpose in the play. What is the purpose of Scene 6? Why does this brief scene work so well to achieve the author's purpose?

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