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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 had Annie requested that Little Chandler bring home?

2. What is the nickname that Mr. Holohan has in "A Mother"?

3. Of whom does the poem in "Ivy Day in the Committee Room" speak?

4. Who is the king during "Ivy Day in the Committee Room"?

5. Which sport do Farrington and his friends engage in to prove their strength?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Mr. O'Connor's appearance in "Ivy Day in the Committee Room".

2. What is the "plot" the Kernans' friends devise to bring some stability to Mr. Kernan's life?

3. What preparations does Mrs. Kearney make for the concerts on behalf of her daughter?

4. What is the sermon the priest delivers in "Grace"?

5. What does the group of men in "Ivy Day in the Committee Room" meet to discuss?

6. In "Clay", how do Maria's acquaintances think of Maria?

7. What do Mr. Duffy and Mrs. Sinico do when they visit?

8. Describe Farrington's relationship with his family.

9. What is the relationship between Maria, Joe, and Alphy in "Clay"?

10. What injury does Mr. Kernan sustain in "Grace"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe why you believe Joyce chose the title "Clay" for his story involving Maria and her trip to visit her good friends. Support your arguments with evidence from the story. Remember, you may argue any perspective that you believe to be true, as long as you can defend it well; therefore, you should not hesitate to stretch your critical thinking skills and consider subtle possibilities.

Essay Topic 2

Describe what the "little cloud" is in "A Little Cloud." Which character does it affect? How? Why? You may argue any reasonable position, as long as you can support it fully with examples from the text. Do not forget to consider minor characters, if you wish.

Essay Topic 3

Compare the ideals of the political heroes discussed in "Ivy Day in the Committee Room" with the actual behavior of the characters in the story. Who are the political heroes, and what ideals do they espouse? What are the characters in the story doing while they talk about those heroes? What is the irony that Joyce describes in the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 809 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample