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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. Who offers to drive Jill home from the bus stop?

2. What type of land does Nat live on?

3. During the first attack, how long does Nat battle against the birds in the bedroom?

4. When Nat returns home from burying the bodies, what news does his wife deliver?

5. What country does Mrs. Trigg think the violent birds have come from?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Nat find irritating about the radio announcer’s voice, and why?

2. How does Nat fight the birds away from his children during the first attack?

3. How does Mrs. Hocken react when Nat starts boarding up the windows and doors?

4. Who does Nat speak to while at the bus stop, and what is their reaction to his call?

5. What is Nat’s mental state when he returns home from the bus stop?

6. How does Mr. Trigg help the situation when Jill arrives at the bus stop?

7. What does Nat Hocken do for a living, and why does he enjoy it?

8. What theory does Mrs. Trigg present as the origins of the strange birds?

9. What supplies do the Hockens have at home, and what does Nat list as necessities to buy the next time he’s in town?

10. When do the birds first draw blood from Nat?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does "The Birds" reflect the theme of "man versus nature"? Do you believe this is the dominant theme in the story? Why or why not? If so, provide examples from the story which support your point. If not, explain what theme is dominant in the story. Provide examples to support your point.

Essay Topic 2

Symbolism is an important element of "The Birds." Find three symbolic elements, incidents, or objects in the story. Explain how the elements are symbolic and why they are important.

Essay Topic 3

What signs that something is amiss does Nat notice early on in the story? Why does he notice these things when no one else does? How does Nat's ability to notice these things ultimately affect the fate of his character?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 847 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample