View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. On how many previous occasions had ma handed over her purse to someone else?

2. What practice of middle sister's does longest friend say she had consistently warned middle sister to stop performing?

3. What type of weapon does the milkman continually mention when threatening to take maybe-boyfriend's life?

4. Which element of speech had inspired suspicion in middle sister's mind long before the appearance of the milkman in her life?

5. At what time of night does the group of renouncers-of-the-state arrive at maybe-boyfriend's house to threaten him?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do the renouncers-of-the-state come to middle sister's family's door in Chapter 5?

2. What is the ultimate fate of longest friend?

3. What revelation does ma make about real milkman during one of her breaks from the hospital?

4. What is the symbolism of the "tenner" (220) in the novel?

5. What kind of murders are said to be "unfathomable" (237) within the confines of middle sister's community and why are they described in this way?

6. Describe an instance when Burns makes a point about how polarization often leads to exclusion.

7. What does Semtex symbolize within the novel?

8. Who is ultimately revealed to have killed tablets girl?

9. What major revelation about the community's view of middle sister does longest friend reveal during their meeting?

10. For what reason does the incident in the chip shop happen, according to middle sister?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose an object from Milkman, such as the white van, the Bentley logo, or some other symbolic object and discuss its overall meaning and its connection to themes within the text.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Burns’s use of metaphor, simile, imagery, and other literary devices as a means to send particular thematic messages within the narrative of Milkman.

Essay Topic 3

How does Burns use sensory details in order to strengthen the text’s messages? Discuss at least two passages that include the use of sensory details and pull quotes from these passages to support your claim.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,259 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample