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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. Martin Cunningham's face looks like the face of which person?

2. Of whom does the poem in "Ivy Day in the Committee Room" speak?

3. How much is Miss Kearney supposed to receive for her work with the concerts?

4. How old is Mrs. Sinico when she dies in "A Painful Case"?

5. What is the setting as "Grace" begins?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Mrs. Kearney demands that the Eire Abu Society fulfill their part of the contract?

2. Describe Farrington's relationship with his family.

3. What does the group of men in "Ivy Day in the Committee Room" meet to discuss?

4. How does Little Chandler handle his crying baby?

5. In "A Painful Case," what is Mr. Duffy's daily routine?

6. In "Clay", how do Maria's acquaintances think of Maria?

7. Describe Mr. Holohan's work ethic in comparison to Mrs. Kearney's work ethic.

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

9. What happens when Farrington returns to his desk after the first time in the story Mr. Alleyne reprimands him?

10. Describe the game that Maria plays with Joe's family and the neighbor girls.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Dubliners, Joyce presents a scathing condemnation of the society of his beloved Dublin. Explain the deterioration that he depicts. How does Joyce effectively convey his message? Describe his choice of the short story genre, his use of symbolism and theme, and his character development.

Essay Topic 2

Compare Eveline to two other female protagonists, Maria of "Clay" and Mrs. Kearney of "A Mother." Which of the latter two do you believe Eveline will be more like when she reaches middle age and beyond? Why? Do you expect her to become hardened with age like Mrs. Kearney or to soften like Maria?

Essay Topic 3

Compare the ideals of the political heroes discussed in "Ivy Day in the Committee Room" with the actual behavior of the characters in the story. Who are the political heroes, and what ideals do they espouse? What are the characters in the story doing while they talk about those heroes? What is the irony that Joyce describes in the story?

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