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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. What does Dangerfield wear when he, MacDoon and Parnell go out drinking?

2. What does O'Keefe ask Dangerfield to bring him when they meet?

3. Dangerfield is drinking ___________ from a bottle stashed in the pouch of the kangaroo costume.

4. What does Mary comment on when she sees Dangerfield naked for his bath?

5. What is the inscription on a fountain that Dangerfield sees?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Mary's bath symbolize her new life?

2. Why does Dangerfield relent and go to the party Clocklan invited him to attend?

3. Why is religion an important theme in the novel?

4. What is the relationship between Dangerfield and Miss Frost at this point?

5. Contrast the worlds of Mary and Dangerfield.

6. What objective has O'Keefe still not attained in his life?

7. How does Dangerfield's upswing in Chapter 19 come at the expense of Mary and O'Keefe?

8. How does Dangerfield's move from Dublin to London show the difference between poverty and wealth?

9. What is the content of the letter Dangerfield receives from Skully?

10. What is the role of women in Ireland as evidenced by the lives of Lilly and Mary?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Poverty seems to be almost an unnamed character in the book. How pervasive is the sense of poverty? Why does it have such a prevalent place in the characters' lives? Explain how an inanimate object or characteristic can be a character.

Essay Topic 2

Create a character study of Dangerfield. What are his physical characteristics? What are his motivations? What are his fears? What are his dreams? What else can you say about Dangerfield?

Essay Topic 3

Does Donleavy end the novel on a note of hope for Dangerfield or the continuance of his struggle to come to terms with his flawed relationship with Mary? Give your perspective and two reasons to support your answer.

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