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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. According to the news, which of these is NOT a way the attacks affected London?

2. What type of land does Nat live on?

3. What is Mrs. Trigg’s reaction to Nat’s story about the previous night’s attack?

4. What type of bird makes a kamikaze dive toward Nat’s head?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Why is Nat filled with “a kind of excitement” upon returning home from the beach?

4. What startling sight does Nat see while on the beach?

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

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

7. When does Nat typically watch the birds, and what does he notice about them when the story opens?

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

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

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

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?

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This section contains 852 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample