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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 another word for the former sailor hairstyle called 'queues'?

2. What disturbing sensation does Quoyle have when in the green house?

3. What is one surprising use for knots?

4. Under what flag is the ship Rome registered?

5. What fell from the latch as Quoyle exited?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way is Quoyle's discovery of the body important to the narrative?

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

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

4. What is the outcome of Bunny's attack on the teacher?

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

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

7. In what shape is the local Newfoundland economy?

8. What convincing evidence is there in this chapter of Quoyle's aptness for the new life he is making at Killick-Claw?

9. In what ways are descriptions of interior environment, specifically the Heavy weather bar and the Burke house, connected to the characters of Quoyle and Tert Card in Chapter 34?

10. What behaviors show the reader how the relationship between Quoyle and Wavey is developing?

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

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 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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