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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. Of which type of figurative language is this an example: 'The bay was an aluminum tray dotted with paper boats.'?

2. What do Quoyle and Bunny think about going back to New York?

3. What season is best for boat-building?

4. What job change does Jack announce for Quoyle?

5. Who is Bunny's best friend?

Short Essay Questions

1. From the description of it in this chapter, is it possible Quoyle would enjoy living in Nutbeem's trailer?

2. In what way is Bunny's attention-seeking during the restaurant dinner important?

3. For Quoyle, what are the outcomes of his misadventure with the 'speedboat'?

4. To what extent is Quoyle drawn to the green house on the point?

5. Comment on the reception given Quoyle's piece about oil tankers.

6. What is Quoyle's response to Billy Pretty's skepticism about him?

7. What good personal quality of Quoyle's almost costs him his life?

8. In what ways are contrasts important in Chapter 36 of The Shipping News?

9. Contrast the growing relationship between Quoyle and Wavey with that each experienced with their previous partners.

10. Comment on Jack Buggit's 'resurrection'.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

All human beings need to have a sense of belonging to a group or a place. Without that, they can feel rootless, bereft.

Discuss the way in which the theme of 'belonging' is explored in THE SHIPPING NEWS.

Focus on three characters and their quest to belong.

Are there characters who do not follow such a quest? Who are these characters and why do you think they are different?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about the important contrasts that are represented in THE SHIPPING NEWS.

1) Focus on contrasting values and attitudes. In what ways are those in Newfoundland different from what Quoyle has left behind? Illustrate by focusing on three characters and make frequent reference to the text.

2) Consider the contrast between life in Killick-Claw and that which Partridge describes in his phone call from Los Angeles.

3) Discuss the ways in which these contrasts support the themes of the novel.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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