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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 "The Comforts of Home," what is Star's real name?

2. In the story "Everything That Rises Must Converge," where does Julian say that "true culture" lies?

3. In the story "Greenleaf," why does Mrs. May go to the Greenleaf boys' farm?

4. In the story "Greenleaf," who does Mrs. May blame for Mr. Greenleaf having to shoot the bull?

5. In the story "Everything That Rises Must Converge," how long has Julian been out of college?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. In the story "The Enduring Chill," who does Asbury believe is responsible for his failure as an artist? Why?

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

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

6. Describe the "communion" that Asbury, Randall and Morgan take in the story "The Enduring Chill."

7. In the story "Revelation," what bothers Mrs. Turpin about the teenage girl?

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

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

10. 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"?

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

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 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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