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. In "The Lame Shall Enter First," why does Sheppard not go into Norton's room after talking with Rufus about whether or not he was at the movies with his son?

2. In "The Lame Shall Enter First," where did Sheppard meet Rufus Johnson?

3. In the story "Parker's Back," who does Parker believe his wife is jealous of?

4. In the story "The Enduring Chill," where does Asbury's friend Goetz take him to help him deal with death?

5. In the story "The Comforts of Home," what does Star wear when she enters Thomas' room late one night?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the story "Judgment Day," what does Tanner say will happen on judgment day?

2. In the story "Greenleaf," why does Mrs. May say that O.T. & E.T. should have been her sons?

3. Describe social class from Mrs. Turpin's perspective as presented in the story "Revelation."

4. In the story "Revelation," what is the significance of Mrs. Turpin's vision at the end of the story?

5. In the story "The Enduring Chill," why does Father Finn say Asbury is ignorant?

6. In the story "Parker's Back," why doesn't Sarah Ruth want Parker to have the Bible tattooed on his back?

7. In the story "Parker's Back," what inspires Parker to get his first tattoo?

8. Why is Julian left feeling "guilt and sorrow" at the end of the story "Everything That Rises Must Converge"?

9. In the story "Judgment Day," what do the two notes that Tanner writes instruct their readers to do?

10. In the story "Judgment Day," what is the only time that Tanner has "feelings of warmth" for his daughter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Everything That Rises Must Converge" offers a commentary on aging. Select two of the stories dealing with aging characters and write an essay:

1) describing the aging characters;

2) explaining the significance of their age on the story's plot;

3) explaining what commentary you think the author is making on aging.

Be sure to use specific examples from the stories to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

In any collection of short stories there is at least one story that readers do not enjoy reading. Select the one story in the collection that you think the author could have "done without" and write an essay:

1) explaining why the author should have removed the story from the collection;

2) detailing what the impact of removing the story would be.

Be sure to use specific examples from the stories to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

One of the themes in the collection of short stories "Everything That Rises Must Converge" is that of past vs. present. Select three of the stories dealing with this theme and:

1) explain what the story says about the past and the present;

2) demonstrate how the theme is developed in the story.

Then explain what you think Flannery O'Connor's overall commentary on past vs. present is in the novel as a whole.

Be sure to use specific examples from the stories to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,084 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample