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. Connell's correspondence with Marianne includes "lots of links to" (161) what?

2. Who is the first man with whom Marianne has a relationship after her split from Connell?

3. What is the first emotion Connell feels when Marianne confesses that Jamie has certain proclivities?

4. Against what surface does someone smash one of Marianne's coupe champagne glasses?

5. Peggy often treats Marianne in what way?

Short Essay Questions

1. What aspect of Connell and Marianne's high school relationship remains intact in their adult relationship?

2. By April of 2012, Connell and Marianne have fallen into a certain routine. What is it?

3. What is Marianne's reply when Peggy asks about Marianne's hang-ups?

4. What happens to foil Connell's Plan B for staying in Dublin over the summer?

5. What gift does Connell bring back for Mariane from his trip in the summer of 2013 and why?

6. How is the motif of violence depicted within Connell's feelings about Jamie?

7. What does it mean to Marianne when she wins the full scholarship to graduate school, according to Connell?

8. What simile does Rooney use to describe Connell's feelings about writing and why?

9. What does it mean to Connell when he wins the full scholarship to graduate school?

10. What does Connell find troubling about the financial arrangements among Marianne, Lorraine, and himself?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the instances of irony within the narrative of Normal People and analyze Rooney’s purpose for including each instance you discuss.

Essay Topic 2

Analyze Rooney’s focus on the theme of control in Normal People. What message is Rooney sending about the desire to control and to be controlled?

Essay Topic 3

Provide a thorough analysis of the denouement of Rooney's novel Normal People.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 930 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample