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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. What is Huw's eldest brother's name?

2. What is Bronwen's son named?

3. What is wrong with the woman that runs the boardinghouse?

4. How does Huw's father react to him sneaking out to the union meeting?

5. What profession does Ianto consider?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Ianto's outburst against the preachers.

2. How do Huw's brothers react to the trouble that brews at the colliery early on in the novel?

3. What does Beth go to a workers' meeting for in Chapter 6, and how does she get there?

4. How does Huw react to witnessing the birth of a child?

5. How does Huw describe his childhood?

6. What happens to Beth in Chapter 6?

7. Describe the wedding in Chapter 2.

8. How is the village portrayed in Chapter 1?

9. What does Gwilym senior think of women's tears?

10. How does the valley govern itself (i.e., upon what principles)?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The characters in this novel experience significant emotional tension because of problems at the colliery. How is emotional tension displayed in the novel? Why is there emotional tension amongst the Morgans? How does each character cope with the tension and stress? Make sure you answer each question with evidence from the novel.

Essay Topic 2

Analysis is important when reading any piece of work. Choose a character to focus on for this essay and describe him or her. How does your character interact with others? How have they been influenced by other characters? Who influenced this character the most? Make sure you answer each question with evidence from the novel.

Essay Topic 3

The nature of family is a prominent theme throughout the whole novel, mostly because the novel follows Huw's family throughout his childhood and growth into a man. How does the theme of family run through the novel? How does the nature of family influence Huw's views? Make sure you answer each question with evidence from the novel.

(see the answer keys)

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