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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 is the distinctive feature of the Quoyle house?

2. What function did Misky Bay fulfill during the war?

3. The bay's appearance on the map is shown as . . .

4. What is the subject of the story Quoyle tells his daughters?

5. What complicates the family's stay at the motel?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is the significance of Agnis' relationship with Irene Warren?

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

4. What is significant about the different ways in which Quoyle and his aunt respond to the finding of Bayonet Melville's head?

5. What are Quoyle's expectations of marriage and how is the reality different for him?

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

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

8. Why do we feel at this point that there is cause to be optimistic about Quoyle's growing friendship with Wavey?

9. How does Quoyle feel about Bunny's problems at school?

10. How does Quoyle respond to the news about the Quoyles' past?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

THE SHIPPING NEWS is a novel rich in symbolism.

1) Discuss three significant symbols in the novel and comment on their importance for characterization and thematic development.

2) Does the author focus on one or more particular symbols and what does that add to our understanding of the main characters?

3) Are there specific symbols associated with particular characters?

4) What is the place of symbolism in readers' deeper appreciation of this or any other novel?

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

THE SHIPPING NEWS shows us contrasting practices in the rearing of children. Explain and discuss the way in which Quoyle was raised and contrast this with the way he raises his own children. You could also refer to the parenting skills of Wavey and Beety. What do these differences show us about (a) changes in society and (b) changes in individuals?

(see the answer keys)

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