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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 object does Mr. Doran polish several times because of his nervousness?

2. What sound is coming from the street while Eveline muses over her memories?

3. In the first paragraph of "The Sisters," the narrator states that he will know if his friend is dead because he will see what in the window?

4. How old is Eveline?

5. On the day the narrator wishes to go to Araby, what time does the narrator's uncle get home?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Doyle's father make his money?

2. What does Eveline do at the last moment before the ship leaves?

3. In "An Encounter", what adventurous plan do the boys hatch?

4. Why is Mr. Doran hesitant to marry Polly?

5. Why can't Miss Mangan go to Araby?

6. What does Lenehan do for a living?

7. Describe the narrator of "Araby"'s morning routine.

8. Describe what happens when Father Flynn takes snuff.

9. What incident led to the decline in Father Flynn's health?

10. Describe the narrator's mood in the days preceding Araby.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare Eveline's father with other fathers and father figures in the book, such as Little Chandler of "A Little Cloud," Farrington of "Counterparts," and Mr. Kernan of "Grace." What do you think were the social expectations for fathers in the Ireland of Joyce's day? Do you think Joyce approves of such expectations? Explain your opinions using examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the interaction between the two boys and the old man in "An Encounter." What does the old man talk about? How does the narrator feel about him at first, and how does he feel about him at the end? How does the boys' reaction to the old man contrast with the encounters with villains that the heroes in Wild West stories have?

Essay Topic 3

Describe why you believe Joyce chose the title "Clay" for his story involving Maria and her trip to visit her good friends. Support your arguments with evidence from the story. Remember, you may argue any perspective that you believe to be true, as long as you can defend it well; therefore, you should not hesitate to stretch your critical thinking skills and consider subtle possibilities.

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This section contains 753 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample