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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 "Greenleaf," how does Mrs. May characterize the Greenleaf boys when she discovers it is their bull on her farm?

2. In the story "The Comforts of Home," what does Thomas ask the sheriff to do?

3. In the story "The Comforts of Home," what is Star's real name?

4. In the story "Parker's Back," what is Sarah Ruth constantly trying to do?

5. In the story "The Comforts of Home," how does Star gain entrance into Thomas' home the second time?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the character of Pitts in the story "A View of the Woods."

2. Describe the black woman who sits next to Julian on the bus in the story "Everything That Rises Must Converge."

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

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

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

7. 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?

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

9. Describe the tractor accident in the story "Parker's Back."

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

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 if one of the stories in this collection was missing from it. Choose one of the stories and "remove" it from the collection. Write an essay:

1) explaining the role that the story plays in the collection;

2) describing how the collection would be different without the story;

3) comment on the quality of the novel without the story--would it be better or worse? Why?

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

Essay Topic 3

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

1) explain what the story says about family;

2) demonstrate how the concept of family is developed in the story.

Then explain what you think Flannery O'Connor's overall commentary on family is in the novel as a whole. Be sure to use specific examples from the stories to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

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