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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. Why does the boy ride home with Sergeant Burke in the police car?

2. Who is Meave?

3. In Chapter 2, at what time does the grandfather clock strike before it stops for good?

4. What happens to Billy Mahon?

5. What does "The Shan Van Vocht" mean?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the disappearance of Uncle Eddie such a mystery?

2. The theme of disappearance is further discussed in Chapter 2. Explain.

3. Why does the boy try to run away in Chapter 3?

4. Describe Crazy Joe.

5. Who is Tony and what happened to him?

6. What causes the rat infestation mentioned in Chapter 3?

7. Why doesn't the author ever reveal the narrator's first name?

8. What does the boy's grandfather tell him right before he dies?

9. Why is Una's death seen as an outlet for the boy's mother?

10. How can we see in Chapter 2 that the belief in the supernatural is a powerful force in Northern Ireland during this time?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who do you think is ultimately responsible for Eddie's death?

1. Is it the hand that pulls the trigger or the hand that orchestrates it to happen?

2. Are multiple people to blame?

3. Is one person more guilty than another?

Essay Topic 2

How does the historical context of Northern Ireland affect the story itself? How does it affect the characters and the mystery of Eddie's death? Why is it important to know the historical context to fully understand the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Which characters in the novel would be considered guides for the boy narrator? What do they teach him? Are they positive or negative mentors?

(see the answer keys)

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