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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. Throughout the story, whom does Nat often order to “do what I tell you”?

2. What type of land does Nat live on?

3. Who does Mrs. Trigg suggest Nat should call to find out the reason behind the bird attacks?

4. When Nat phones about the birds flying inland, how does the voice on the other end sound?

5. Why doesn’t Nat ride along with Jill?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Mrs. Hocken think the army should do to battle the birds, and what is Nat’s reaction to his wife’s idea?

3. What does Nat think has caused the birds’ strange behavior?

4. How is the weather described on the morning of the first bird attack?

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

6. During the news broadcast at dinner that night, what insight does the announcer give into the attacks?

7. How does Nat protect himself from the bird attack as he runs home from Jill’s bus stop?

8. Why does Nat rush to the bus stop, early, to meet Jill from school?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

While "The Birds" is believed to have been allegorical to the Cold War, it is also believed that "The Birds" is a cautionary tale about the environment, or a warning about pushing nature too far. Which of these do you believe to be most accurate? Provide three examples from the text to support your claim. If you believe that "The Birds" is allegorical to all three options, provide one example speaking to each from the text.

Essay Topic 2

In your opinion, why does the story have an ambiguous ending? Is this merely to elicit a reaction from the readers, or does the author have a deeper purpose? Is there an entirely different reason? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

The story's setting in an isolated English coastal town is critical to the plot. Do you believe this is so? If so, how does the setting of the story ultimately affect the plot, especially in terms of isolation? If the setting is not critical to the plot, why not? Explain how setting the story elsewhere would not affect the plot.

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