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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 Maggie feel about Michael's kites?

2. Where does Gerry Evans hide when Agnes comes back from picking blackberries?

3. Who does Uncle Jack worship during Mass in Uganda?

4. What is the result of Gerry Evans' war injury?

5. What does Rose say happened to the boy who was burned at the Lughnasa festival?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do you make of the kites as a symbol or metaphor, and of the fact that they wouldn't fly?

2. Where did Gerry Evans sign up for military service, and why is that location significant?

3. Why did Kate believe Agnes could not work in a factory?

4. How did Michael behave as his father, Gerry Evans, had done?

5. Which of the sisters understands the politics of the Spanish Civil War?

6. How does Uncle Jack reveal that the Ryangans have not been converted to Christianity by his efforts?

7. What does Uncle Jack reveal about his ministry in Ryanga when Kate asks if the people gather together for Mass?

8. What significance do you make of the fact that the recruiter who enlists Gerry Evans in the war effort is, unnoticed by Gerry Evans until after he is writing his name, a midget?

9. What does it tell you about Gerry Evans that he says he will check the ignition and sparking plugs of the radio?

10. What has Rose forgotten when she comes home from her meeting with Danny Bradley?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The playwright, Brian Friel, uses the character Michael to tell the audience the eventual fate of the characters before the play itself is finished. How did knowing where the characters' actions would lead them affect you as a reader? Did you find it an effective dramatic device?

Essay Topic 2

At different times in the play, every character dances except for Michael. Select two of the characters and analyze the dance of each. What does their dance mean? What does the dance tell the audience about the character? If you select Michael as one of the characters, explain why you think he is the only one who does not dance.

Essay Topic 3

The fox is an important metaphor in this play. If the family of women is the hen house, who is the fox? How many of the women have had unsuccessful relationships with men? List and explain each and develop your own thesis for why each situation ended unhappily.

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