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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 two people or things is Ralph torn between?

2. Which of the following are two of the Cleary boys?

3. What strikes the dead gum tree and starts the fire?

4. What does Fiona bring to her family?

5. As administrator of Mary Carson's wealth, Father Ralph does something that is unheard of. What is that?

Short Essay Questions

1. Since Fiona never converted to Catholicism, what aspects of a Catholic life are missing in the household?

2. How does life change for Fiona and Meggie when they move into the main house?

3. What makes Meggie's doll special?

4. What does the family think of Paddy's disappearance?

5. What is Father Ralph's visit to Drogheda like?

6. Why does Mary Carson find it more advantageous to remain a widow and not remarry?

7. What kind of employer is Mary Carson?

8. Why is the romance between Meggie Cleary and Father Ralph ill-fated?

9. What are the land and climate like?

10. Why do the Clearys decide to move to Drogheda?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Meggie's children, Justine and Dane, are close growing up, but they have entirely different personalities. What does Justine's personality say about the relationship between Meggie and Justine's father? What does Dane's personality say about the relationship between Meggie and Dane's father? What is the symbolism of Dane being the perfect child and Justine being not so perfect?

Essay Topic 2

Are there any relationships that appear similar in this story? If so, what are the specific relationships and describe the situation and outcomes. These relationships may be between brother and sister, husband and wife, employer and employee, etc.

Essay Topic 3

You have been given the task of summarizing a character or characters from this novel in two or three paragraphs. Focusing on the character(s) of your choice, who will you write about? What will you highlight? Why did you choose the character(s) that you chose? Then summarize the character(s) you selected.

(see the answer keys)

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