View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is something that saddens Father Schwartz at the start of "Absolution"?
(a) He feels unable to obtain perfect union with God.
(b) He does not get along with his housekeeper.
(c) The noise outside his window makes it hard to read.
(d) He works so late he does not sleep.

2. What does Father ask Rudolph about the kinds of thoughts he confessed to having?
(a) If he enjoys them.
(b) If he has told anyone else about them.
(c) How often he has had them.
(d) Why he finds them problematic.

3. What does Rudolph tell Father Schwartz when he finally speaks?
(a) He is worried about his father.
(b) He wants to be a pastor.
(c) His mother has run away.
(d) He has committed a horrible sin.

4. Who brings Rudolph Miller to Father Schwartz when he first comes to see him at the start of the story?
(a) Rudolph's father.
(b) Rudolph's mother.
(c) Father Schwartz's housekeeper.
(d) A fellow priest.

5. Why did Rudolph's father tell him to go to confession three days before the narrative present?
(a) His father suspected Rudolph had had impure thoughts.
(b) His father suspected Rudolph had told a lie.
(c) His father suspected Rudolph has stolen from the church.
(d) Rudolph had not been to confession in over a month.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Father Schwartz "pray aloud for twilight to come" (1) at the start of the story?

2. Who is the first character introduced in "Absolution"?

3. Who is Blatchford Sarnemington?

4. What does Father Schwartz offer to Rudolph when he will not tell him his sin?

5. What words does Father Schwartz use when listening to Rudolph's confession?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Blatchford Sarnmenington? What happens when Rudolph thinks of him?

2. What did Rudolph try to force himself to do as he waited at the confessional in Chapter 2?

3. What does Father Schwartz do on Saturdays after confession? What happens as he passes the drug store that increases his sadness?

4. Why did Rudolph's father tell him he had to go to confession three days before Rudolph came to see Father Schwartz in his home? Did Rudolph obey his father?

5. What made Rudolph uncomfortable as he sat waiting to confess at the start of Chapter 2?

6. Who is Rudolph Miller? How does Father Schwartz behave when he first comes to his house in Chapter 1?

7. What words does Father Schwartz use when addressing Rudolph in the confessional in Chapter 2?

8. What questions does Father Schwartz ask Rudolph when he says he has committed a terrible sin?

9. Why did Rudolph stay and confess despite his urge to leave while he waited at the confessional in Chapter 2?

10. What does Father Schwartz tell Rudolph he should have done when he was in the barn with the boy and the girl?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 820 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample