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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 Violet die?

2. How does Sean look as he walks Aisling down the aisle in Chapter 13?

3. What pains Elizabeth when she sees Donal in Chapter 12?

4. What does Simon do to make Elizabeth uncomfortable in Chapter 20?

5. How many days are Aisling and Elizabeth in Ireland in Chapter 19?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Aisling's family in Kilgarret respond to her decision to leave Tony?

2. Who does Aisling begin an affair with in Chapter 20? Who almost discovers the affair?

3. What career progress does Elizabeth make in Chapter 11? What does her father think about her activities?

4. Why is Violet hospitalized in Chapter 11? What does George think of this turn of events?

5. What changes occur in Elizabeth's love life in Chapter 15? What difficulties does Aisling face in her marriage in Chapter 15?

6. What does Aisling look forward to on her wedding day?

7. What difficulties does Aisling face with Tony in Chapter 17? What conclusion does she come to about her marriage?

8. At the wedding, what does Elizabeth realize when she is asked about her wedding plans?

9. What does Aisling innocently reveal to Henry in Chapter 20?

10. How does Elizabeth's and Stone's relationship come to an end in Chapter 16?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author of the novel "Light a Penny Candle", Maeve Binchy. What other books has she written? Is this novel similar to her other works in term of plot, tone and genre? How is her work received by critics?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the motif of sex in the novel "Light a Penny Candle". What are Elizabeth's and Aisling's attitudes towards sex when they are young in Ireland? How do their attitudes change as they mature? What are the characters' opinions on premarital sex?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of religion in the novel "Light a Penny Candle". How does Elizabeth's move to Ireland introduce her to a new faith? How does her new faith influence her? What is the connection between the novel's motif of guilt and its theme of religion? Are Elizabeth and Aisling religious people?

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