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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 "Revelation," what bothers Mrs. Turpin about the chair she has to sit in?

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 "Revelation," what does Mrs. Turpin do as she is working in the pig parlor?

4. In the story "Greenleaf," why does Mrs. May believe she suddenly becomes so tired?

5. In the story "Revelation," what do the Turpins do upon returning home from the doctor's office?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the story "The Comforts of Home," what does Thomas' mother do to help Star?

2. In the story "Revelation," what happens to the teenage girl after she attacks Mrs. Turpin?

3. In the story "Greenleaf," how do the Greenleafs come to live on the May farm?

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

5. In the story "A View of the Woods," what does Fortune notice about the woods in front of the Pitts' home on the night before he sells the lot?

6. In the story "Greenleaf," how does Mrs. May discover Mrs. Greenleaf's faith healing practice?

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

8. In the story "Judgment Day," how do Tanner's and his daughter's views on burial differ?

9. In the story "The Comforts of Home," why is Thomas mournful that his father has died but "had not been able to endure him in life"?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Flashbacks play an important role in the development of characters in this novel. Choose two of the flashbacks presented in the novel and:

1) describe each flashback;

2) describe the significance of the flashback on the person remembering the scene;

3) analyze the placement of this flashback at this point in the narrative--why does the author choose to include the flashback at this point in the story?

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

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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