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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. Bethan suggests that the three girls should stop including a baby in their pretending games due to what reason?

2. What scent does Alys believe has caused the triggering of Claire's memory?

3. What object does Claire tell Einar she will throw from the top of the cliff to let him know she has succeeded?

4. Claire goes to see Einar on a winter day primarily in order to ask him about what aspect of his past?

5. What gift does Einar give to Claire once she is well enough to receive gifts?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Einar say about Claire's stated motivation for climbing out?

2. For what element does Trademaster agree to trade Claire's son and what is the immediate result of the trade?

3. For what purpose does Claire venture out of her house on a winter day to seek out Einar?

4. How does Claire's reaction to reaching the summit of the hill path change over time?

5. How is Trademaster's appearance described in the narrative?

6. What is Alys's reaction to the news that Claire is training to climb out?

7. What examples of Einar's father's abuse within Einar's story involve Alys?

8. What is revealed about the relationship of Old Benedikt and Alys?

9. Though Alys is childless herself, what experience does she have that qualifies her for the care of Claire upon Claire's arrival in the village?

10. What is the only thing Claire remembers from her past once she arrives in the village after fleeing the community by boat?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many instances of irony are included in the novel's narrative, including the fact that Claire's preservation of her own life while climbing the cliff is dependent upon her killing of many baby seagulls within a nearby nest. Find three other instances of irony within the novel and discuss each instance's significance.

Essay Topic 2

The novel Son does not shy away from including disturbing details when describing the sexual abuse forced on Alys during her childhood or when explaining Trademaster's removal of parts of Einar's feet with an axe. Some may say that the harsh realities depicted in Lois Lowry's novel Son are too disturbing for a young audience. Write a persuasive essay in which you argue for or against the use of the novel Son in schools, and be sure to include several logical reasons with accompanying concrete details to support your claim.

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes in Western culture, volunteerism is looked at in terms of only helping those in need, but Lois Lowry's novel Son seems to put forth the proposition that service to others can also be a means to the provider's own personal happiness. Find examples within the novel Son that prove this conclusion regarding the author's message about service to others and discuss the message's overall effect on the reader.

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