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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. The fundraising dance is held at the only what in town?

2. Connell's grandmother tells him that she has heard that he is going to attend a college in what location?

3. What adjective is used to describe Connell's feelings about sex?

4. The hometown of Connell and Marianne is located in what part of Ireland?

5. At what type of establishment had Connell worked while saving money for a car?

Short Essay Questions

1. What comment of Marianne's does Connell repeat to himself and why?

2. What comment does Marianne make about her appearance when she sees Connell for the first time since high school and how does he react?

3. How does Lorraine react to the news that Connell is taking Rachel to the Debs?

4. What story is continually told about Marianne during her high school years?

5. What had Connell's sexual experiences been like prior to meeting Marianne?

6. Who is Miss Neary?

7. Characterize Marianne's view of high school.

8. How is the theme of self-deception demonstrated within the novel?

9. When the reader joins Connell in the fall of his first year of college, to what changes has he had to adapt?

10. To what action of Rob's does Connell object and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the function of Jamie's character within the novel? Discuss the characterization methods used by Rooney in depicting Jamie and include in your discussion the reasons that Rooney portrays Jamie in these particular ways.

Essay Topic 2

Write a critical essay about Normal People while using the critical power theory lens of feminist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the novel's treatment of gender roles, the objectification of women, female empowerment, misogyny's role within society, or any other issues related to feminist theory that can be found in the novel.

Essay Topic 3

William Faulkner once famously claimed that the most important literature deals with the subject of the human heart in conflict with itself. Explain how the theme of Human versus Self is demonstrated within Rooney’s novel Normal People. Create a decisive, arguable claim and prove it with quotes from the novel.

(see the answer keys)

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