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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. In the story "Parker's Back," where does Parker go after the tree catches on fire?

2. In the story "Revelation," how does the doctor subdue the teenage girl?

3. In the story "Revelation," what does Mrs. Turpin do as she is working in the pig parlor?

4. In "The Lame Shall Enter First," what does Sheppard do at the reformatory?

5. In the story "Everything That Rises Must Converge," where does Julian say that "true culture" lies?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the story "Revelation," what is the significance of Mrs. Turpin's vision at the end of the story?

2. Describe the white-trash woman in the story "Revelation."

3. Describe the character of Pitts in the story "A View of the Woods."

4. In the story "Parker's Back," what things does Parker say his wife does not approve of?

5. Describe the black woman who sits next to Julian on the bus in the story "Everything That Rises Must Converge."

6. In the story "A View of the Woods," what angers Mary Fortune about her grandfather's plan to sell a lot of his land?

7. Describe Mary Fortune's appearance in the story "A View of the Woods."

8. What is the significance of Julian's mother's hat in the story "Everything That Rises Must Converge"?

9. At the end of the story "The Comforts of Home," what does the sheriff surmise actually happened to Thomas' mother?

10. In the story "The Comforts of Home," what bothers Thomas about Star?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the recurrent topics in the collection of short stories "Everything That Rises Must Converge" is race relations in the U.S. Select three of the stories dealing with this topic and:

1) explain what the story says about race relations;

2) demonstrate how this idea is developed in the story.

Then explain what you think Flannery O'Connor's overall commentary on race is in the novel as a whole.

Be sure to use specific examples from the stories to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Flashbacks play an important role in the development of characters in this novel. Choose two of the flashbacks presented in the novel and:

1) describe each flashback;

2) describe the significance of the flashback on the person remembering the scene;

3) analyze the placement of this flashback at this point in the narrative--why does the author choose to include the flashback at this point in the story?

Be sure to use specific examples from the stories to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Several of the stories in this collection offer a commentary on charity. Select three of the stories in which this commentary is developed and:

1) explain what the stories say about charity;

2) demonstrate how the author develops this commentary in the story;

3) respond to the author's commentary--do you agree or disagree with her? Why?

Be sure to use specific examples from the stories to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

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