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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. Where does Stone announce he is going during Aisling's goodbye dinner in Chapter 10?

2. Who is Elizabeth employed by at the end of Chapter 7?

3. From which class is Elizabeth excused in Chapter 3?

4. What does Elizabeth begin attending in Chapter 4?

5. Why does Elizabeth enter the men's room in Chapter 2?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sean Sr. want before he would allow Sean Jr. to fight with the English?

2. What does Violet announce the day before Elizabeth's sixteenth birthday?

3. Why does Aisling insist on going sightseeing? What shocks Aisling on a tour of the Art College?

4. How does Sean Sr. react when Sean Jr. enlists? What change occurs within the family ranks?

5. In Chapter 3, what do Elizabeth's and Eileen's first letters to the Whites refer to?

6. In Chapter 10, to what does Aisling equate sex?

7. What paths do Aisling and Elizabeth pursue in Chapter 7?

8. What dismays Elizabeth on the purchasing trip she goes on with Stone?

9. What does Eileen worry over concerning Elizabeth's arrival?

10. What does Worsky warn Elizabeth about Stone? Why doesn't she pay attention?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the motif of alcoholism in the novel "Light a Penny Candle". What are some examples of alcohol leading to problems for the characters, particularly Aisling and Elizabeth. How is alcohol a leading factor in the demise of Aisling's marriage?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the setting of the novel. How important is the setting to novel? How does WWII affect the characters? What does Ireland teach Elizabeth? What does England teach Aisling? What differences are illustrated between England and Ireland? What if the novel had been set in a different place and time? In your opinion, would the choices of the protagonists be different? If so, how?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and interpret the characters Elizabeth and Aisling. What are their defining character traits? What struggles and obstacles do they face throughout the novel? What are their goals and motives?

(see the answer keys)

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