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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. How does Rudolph feel as the time for communion nears at church in Chapter 4?

2. Where are Rudolph and Father Schwartz at the start of Chapter 5?

3. What lie does Rudolph tell his father when his father is upset after finding him in the kitchen Sunday morning in Chapter 3?

4. How does Rudolph feel when Father Schwartz speaks at the end of Chapter 5?

5. What is Rudolph's father doing when he hears footsteps in his kitchen at the start of Chapter 3?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Carl pray for in the church pew as he kneels beside his son?

2. How does Rudolph's mother behave after his altercation with his father in Chapter 3? How does Rudolph feel about his mother at this time?

3. What does Father Schwartz tell Rudolph he should do after asking him what he wants to be when he grows up?

4. Why does Rudolph feel safe in the room with Father Schwartz at the start of Chapter 5?

5. What happens to Father Schwartz at the end of the story? What does Rudolph do?

6. What does Rudolph tell Father Schwartz in the confessional in Chapter 4 after his altercation with his father?

7. What are the only two options Rudolph thinks he has after his father finds him in the kitchen in Chapter 3?

8. How does Rudolph feel as time for communion nears? Why does he ultimately get up to take communion?

9. What happens between Carl and Rudolph after Rudolph angrily tosses his cup into the kitchen sink in Chapter 3?

10. With whom does Rudolph walk to church? What is he told he must do when he arrives?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine Rudolph's eyes as symbolic in "Absolution."

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of isolation and discuss how each of the main characters feel isolated.

Essay Topic 3

Genre is a category assigned to a literary work. What are some genres that could be used to classify "Absolution"? What is the main genre of the story? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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