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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 Rose leave for Sissy at the farmhouse?

2. Where does Rose go after spending only one night in the farmhouse?

3. How many days after Cecilia's birth does Rose return to her kitchen job?

4. How does Lorraine attempt to cheer up Sissy?

5. What kind of parent is Rose?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sissy realize about her mother when they are driving in the car?

2. What perspective does Sissy take on people leaving after Thomas is gone?

3. What is the relationship between Sissy and the girls at the home, one girl in particular?

4. Why does it never occur to Sissy that Thomas could be her biological father?

5. What problem does Sissy have now that she is about the same age as the girls coming to St. Elizabeth's?

6. How have the driving lessons provides some hope for a better relationship between Sissy and Rose?

7. How does Son's injury make Sissy even more resentful of her mother's distant behavior?

8. Who is Lorraine and how does Sissy meet her?

9. Why is Son concerned about Rose and Sissy after Sissy's birth?

10. How do Sissy and Son meet Thomas Clinton, Sissy's biological father?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the role of women in Ireland in the mid-20th century when the women in the novel are living their lives. What precedents do they feel compelled to follow? What restrictions do they have? What freedoms did they have that 21st century women do not have?

Essay Topic 2

Patchett is a master at dramatic devices. Choose an example of symbolism, metaphors, and irony, briefly describe them and identify the technique which they embody.

Essay Topic 3

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

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,120 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample