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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. Shawn Keogh's nickname is:

2. What do both Shawn and Michael James claim to hear from a ditch on the side of the road that evening?

3. A second rivalry in act one involves:

4. Shawn is mocked by Pegeen and her father because:

5. Shawn reacts to Christy's employment by:

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe how Pegeen gets Christy to tell them why he is running from the police.

2. What is Pegeen's job?

3. What change occurs in Christy and Old Mahon's relationship by the end of the act?

4. Why is the Widow Quin interested in getting Christy to marry her in order to help Shawn?

5. Describe the mood in Act 1.

6. How do Philly and Jimmy appear to feel about Christy?

7. Explain how Christy says he murdered his da.

8. What does the Widow learn from Old Mahon about Christy's former love life?

9. Describe the relationship between Pegeen and her father, Michael.

10. Why is Christy so upset to see his father in the village?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discussions of courage appear throughout Synge's play. Write an essay in which you:

1) Describe any single character as courageous and use examples to support your ideas

OR

2) Describe any single action as courageous and use examples to support your ideas.

OR

3) Describe the lack of courage displayed by the majority of characters throughout the play, and use examples to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

In Act 3, Philly and Jimmy have an extended discussion about skulls. Write an essay in which you consider a) The symbolic meaning of skulls in Act 3; b) The characterization of Philly and Jimmy through their discussion of skulls; or c) The significance of the exposition revealed in Philly and Jimmy's conversation to the theme of the play.

Essay Topic 3

Consider the motifs of sanity and insanity in Synge's play. Then write an essay in which you explore a) The general sanity of the villagers; b) Synge's statement about sanity and insanity through the events of the play; or c) The insanity of any one character or situation in the play. Be sure to use examples from the text to support your arguement.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 674 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample