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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. Who is the only person to notice that Elizabeth has lost her virginity?

2. How is Sean Jr. killed?

3. What does Aisling think of intercourse in Chapter 7?

4. What religious matter does Elizabeth wonder in her letter to her mother in Chapter 3?

5. Why does Sean Sr. damn his son in Chapter 4?

Short Essay Questions

1. What decision do the adults in Elizabeth's life reach in order to settle their problems?

2. What happens when Sean Jr. fails his Leaving Certificate examination?

3. How does Aisling explain is the way pre-marital pregnancy is dealt with in Kilgarret?

4. What does Worsky warn Elizabeth about Stone? Why doesn't she pay attention?

5. What paths do Aisling and Elizabeth pursue in Chapter 7?

6. What does Violet worry about Elizabeth in Chapter 3?

7. What does Elizabeth write to Aisling about in Chapter 9?

8. How does Elizabeth respond to Aisling's questions about sex?

9. What does Joannie Murray do in Chapter 4?

10. In regard to how Eileen would view her actions, what does Elizabeth decide in Chapter 9?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss love and romance in the novel "Light a Penny Candle". Who does Elizabeth first fall in love with? How does this relationship sway her decisions and affect the rest of her life? Does she find true happiness with her husband Henry? Why or why not? Does Aisling ever love Tony? Does she ever love Stone?

Essay Topic 2

Divorce was a taboo subject during the 1940s. Discuss how Violet's divorce affected Elizabeth and the rest of the White family. Divorce is also not allowed in the Catholic Church, but Aisling finds that she is unable to stay by Tony's side. How does this affect her relationships with her family?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and interpret the characters Elizabeth and Aisling. What are their defining character traits? What struggles and obstacles do they face throughout the novel? What are their goals and motives?

(see the answer keys)

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