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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 infuriates Agnes about Kate?

2. What does Kate call vulgar language?

3. Who is Bernie O'Donnell?

4. How old Is Uncle Jack?

5. What dance do Bernie O'Donnell and Maggie compete in?

Short Essay Questions

1. What significance does Austin Morgan have in this story?

2. For what is the fox in the hen house a metaphor?

3. Why do you think young Michael felt unease rather than amusement or joy when his mother and aunts danced?

4. What does Maggie release for Michael to see?

5. How has Chris brought shame upon the Mundy family?

6. What does Maggie notice about the pack of cigarettes Kate brought her, and why is it significant?

7. What reasons does Kate use for refusing to go to the harvest dance?

8. Why do you think Rose can describe the Festival of Lughnasa to her sisters?

9. What does Agnes mean when she asks Chris, "Do you want to make a pagan of yourself?"

10. How has Uncle Jack brought status to the Mundy family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What do you make of the fact that Michael is often not to be found when the other characters call for him? Cite the passages where they discuss his disappearance when he is needed. Is this a foreshadowing device? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the Ryangan idea of marriage with what Kate calls the "holy sacrament of matrimony." Judging from the main characters and their romantic relationships, make a statement comparing the costs and benefits of both kinds of marriage. Cite quotations from the play to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

Uncle Jack's uniform is an important symbol in this story. Analyze the appearance of his uniform in the mind's eye of young Michael and the rest of his family, and the appearance of his uniform at the end. What does the change represent? How has the family's view of Uncle Jack changed after he has been home for a few weeks?

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This section contains 884 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample