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 invite Rufus to live with he and Norton?

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

3. In the story "Judgment Day," why does Tanner think the black man in his building does not respond to him when he first speaks to him?

4. In the story "Revelation," what does Mrs. Turpin notice about the old woman sitting next to the child?

5. In the story "The Enduring Chill," why does Asbury's sister travel to the train station with his mother?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the story "A View of the Woods," why does Mary Fortune attack her grandfather for beating her but not her father?

2. In the story "A View of the Woods," what angers Mary Fortune about her grandfather's plan to sell a lot of his land?

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

4. In "The Lame Shall Enter First," how does Norton react when Rufus tells him about hell? Why?

5. Describe what happens to Julian's mother when she offers a penny to the black child in the story "Everything That Rises Must Converge."

6. In the story "Revelation," why does Mrs. Turpin continue to repeat the phrase "there's a heap of things worse than a nigger"?

7. Describe Mary Fortune's appearance in the story "A View of the Woods."

8. In the story "Parker's Back," what things does Parker say his wife does not approve of?

9. In "The Lame Shall Enter First," what does Norton do when looking through the telescope alone at night?

10. In the story "Everything That Rises Must Converge," why is Julian so disgusted with his mother?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Because "Everything That Rises Must Converge" is a collection of independent short stories there is no one main character in the novel. However, there are some characters that seem to have a stronger presence than others. Select three characters you see as the main characters in the novel and:

1) describe the characters;

2) make an argument for why each is a main character;

3) describe what the novel would be like without these characters.

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

Essay Topic 2

Imagine that two of the characters from different stories were to meet. Write an essay describing what their meeting would be like focusing on how they would interact, what they might do together and what sort of relationship they might develop.

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

Essay Topic 3

Several of the stories in this collection offer a commentary on charity. Select three of the stories in which this commentary is developed and:

1) explain what the stories say about charity;

2) demonstrate how the author develops this commentary in the story;

3) respond to the author's commentary--do you agree or disagree with her? Why?

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

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,026 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample