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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. In the story "Everything That Rises Must Converge," why must Julian's mother go to the Y each week?

2. In the story "Greenleaf," what does Mrs. May think the reason is for E.T. and O.T. not coming to get their bull?

3. In the story "Everything That Rises Must Converge," what does Julian say to the black man sitting next to him to try and upset his mother?

4. In the story "The Comforts of Home," where does Thomas finally find the sheriff?

5. In the story "A View of the Woods," what does Mary Fortune tell her grandfather when he confronts her about Pitts' beatings?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the story "Revelation," what does Mrs. Turpin say is the problem with farming cotton?

2. In "The Lame Shall Enter First," why does Norton commit suicide?

3. In the story "The Comforts of Home," what bothers Thomas about Star?

4. Describe Julian's mother's hat in the story "Everything That Rises Must Converge."

5. In the story "The Enduring Chill." what attracts Asbury to the Roman Catholic church?

6. Describe the white-trash woman in the story "Revelation."

7. What does the narrator say is the "irony" of the way Julian has turned out in the story "Everything That Rises Must Converge"?

8. Describe O.T. & E.T. Greenleaf from "Greenleaf."

9. At the end of the story "The Comforts of Home," what does the sheriff surmise actually happened to Thomas' mother?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Select the story in the collection that you most identify with. Write an essay explaining:

1) why you selected this story;

2) what is significant to you about the story;

3) how the story reflects your personal beliefs.

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

Essay Topic 2

One of the recurrent topics in the collection of short stories "Everything That Rises Must Converge" is race relations in the U.S. Select three of the stories dealing with this topic and:

1) explain what the story says about race relations;

2) demonstrate how this idea is developed in the story.

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

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

Essay Topic 3

For each story in "Everything That Rises Must Converge" there is a "partner" story in the collection. Select two stories that you believe "fit" together and write an essay:

1) describing each story;

2) demonstrating how the two "fit" together;

3) explain what commentary the author is trying to make through these companion stories.

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

(see the answer keys)

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