View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. During what season does "A Little Cloud" take place?

2. At the end of "A Painful Case," what does Mr. Duffy hear?

3. Which night does the Committee of "A Mother" plan to present the best concert?

4. How does Little Chandler habitually feel?

5. As "Ivy Day in the Committee Room" opens, what is Old Jack using to tend the fire?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the sermon the priest delivers in "Grace"?

2. How does Mrs. Sinico die?

3. How does Mrs. Kernan deal with her husband's drinking bouts?

4. What is the "plot" the Kernans' friends devise to bring some stability to Mr. Kernan's life?

5. What do Mr. Duffy and Mrs. Sinico do when they visit?

6. Describe Gallaher's lifestyle.

7. Describe Mr. Alleyne from the story, "Counterparts".

8. Describe Little Chandler's appearance.

9. What scheme does Mr. Henchy devise for opening the beer bottles?

10. Describe the quality of the concerts.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Mrs. Kearney's actions in "A Mother" as relates to the social conventions for the economic class to which the other characters belong. Then, make a decision about whether she defended justice by demanding proper payment or whether she simply made a nuisance of herself in polite company. Defend your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Compare and contrast Father Flynn's faith in "The Sisters" with that of Father Purdon in "Grace." Given Father Purdon's sermon regarding keeping account books with God, how would he have responded if he had committed Father Flynn's fateful sin of dropping the chalice?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 794 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample