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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 bizarre tale does Nutbeem tell?

2. Why is Dawn keen to use the electric typewriter?

3. How does the reader know Aunt Agnis doesn't like vinyl cladding?

4. Whose ancestor resorted to cannibalism?

5. What is described as a 'gelatinous horror'?

Short Essay Questions

1. What major fear does Quoyle face up to in Chapter 12?

2. In what way is Bunny showing herself to be different from her father?

3. What does the green house on the point mean to the aunt?

4. How does the aunt respond to Quoyle's doubt over his ability to do the job?

5. What do we learn about the aunt in Chapter 6?

6. What is important, symbolically, about Quoyle's reluctance to move into the house on the point?

7. Comment on the significance of the contents of the suitcase Quoyle finds floating in the water.

8. Account for Quoyle's cherished hope that he was, in fact, a changeling.

9. What does Chapter 10 show the reader about the relationship of people to the sea?

10. In what way is the appearance of the Botterjacht ironic?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

THE SHIPPING NEWS is a novel that is dominated by landscape and weather.

1)Discuss the extent to which you agree with this statement.

2)To what extent is there correlation between the external world and the characters' lives?

3) Consider how this happens in a novel or film from your general reading and viewing, and compare it with THE SHIPPING NEWS.

Essay Topic 2

Every character in THE SHIPPING NEWS deals with some kind of adversity. Choose TWO characters.

1) Explain the adversity the characters experience and describe the way in which they deal with it.

2) Discuss differences in the characters' approach and comment on the outcomes of their adversity.

3) What do we learn about the effect of adversity on human lives?

Essay Topic 3

'One problem with THE SHIPPING NEWS is that we are given full insight into only one character: Quoyle.' Is this true and is it a problem? Do you consider the novel to have a full cast of three-dimensional characters whom we care about, or is it chiefly concerned with showing us the 'uncoiling' of Quoyle?

In your answer, refer to Quoyle and three other characters.

(see the answer keys)

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