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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 seemingly the identity of the corpse Quoyle found?

2. What is Billy Pretty's attitude to travel?

3. What pleasure does Wavey enjoy in St John's?

4. What does Quoyle mail to Partridge?

5. Which accommodation no longer seems attractive to Quoyle?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way has Quoyle reached a turning point in his life?

2. Why is Quoyle uncertain about marrying Wavey?

3. In what way does Quoyle fail Nutbeem?

4. Comment on the news stories the men discuss on that cold November morning.

5. In what sense is the new boat symbolic?

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

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

8. In what way is the short scene involving his bath important to our understanding of Quoyle's inner journey?

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

10. Comment on the destruction of the green house on the point.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 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)

This section contains 1,186 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample