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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 Tert Card's reaction to Quoyle's piece about oil tankers?

2. What keeps Adonis Collard in Misky Bay?

3. What is approximate to the meaning of the word 'redolent'?

4. What news does Dennis phone through to Quoyle?

5. How is Quoyle's routine described?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

6. Why is Quoyle uncertain about marrying Wavey?

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

8. What is important about Quoyle's encounter with Cousin Nolan?

9. What interesting plot lines are dealt with in this chapter?

10. What conclusions can be drawn about the origin of the money Agnis receives?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Is anyone happy in THE SHIPPING NEWS?

1) Identify characters who might be described as happy and those who are not. Can you account for those states of mind? What does the novel tell us about the characters' dilemmas, crises and uncertainties?

2) Discuss the importance of happiness and unhappiness in the main plot of THE SHIPPING NEWS.

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

THE SHIPPING NEWS is about physical and internal journeys.

Our lives can be described as journeys during which we encounter many experiences, some pleasant, others terrifying. Our journeys involve the physical, as we move from place to place, and the emotional/psychological, as we respond to what happens to us. Examine the way journeys shape the character and destiny of Quoyle, Agnis, Hamm and Jack Buggit.

(see the answer keys)

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