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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. Why does Quoyle remove the pens from his shirt?

2. What unusual sight do Quoyle and Wavey see as they return with the lunch basket?

3. What novel provides the inspiration for Borogrove, Nutbeem's boat?

4. How can the reader tell that Quoyle is self-conscious when he meets Mavis and Dawn?

5. What creature does Quoyle see when he is clearing trash?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the aunt account for her wish to return to Newfoundland?

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

3. What is indicated by the image of Quoyle looking at the horizon?

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

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

6. In what way is the aunt's reaction to the appearance of the distant Quoyle different from her nephew's?

7. In what way are Billy and Quoyle connected?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

THE SHIPPING NEWS is a novel that successfully presents a web of sub-plots. Of the sub-plots in the novel, identify and discuss two.

1) What functions do these sub-plots perform in the novel? Do they support the main narrative stream, complement it or provide contrast?

2) Do you consider that sub-plots enrich our enjoyment of narrative texts?

Essay Topic 2

In THE SHIPPING NEWS there is a range of events that can be classified as bizarre.

Discuss the use of the bizarre and unusual in THE SHIPPING NEWS. Is there any pattern in this? Is it linked to theme and/or character?

Focus on three bizarre incidents or characters and show how these are important for the novel as a whole. What is revealed or emphasized about choices, fortune and behavior?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the way the idea of personal freedom is dealt with in THE SHIPPING NEWS.

1) How would you define personal freedom? Does personal freedom imply that there are no responsibilities? What interferes with the exercise of personal freedom?

2)Discuss these ideas with focus on three characters from THE SHIPPING NEWS.

You should focus on three characters, giving equal discussion time to each.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 970 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample