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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. Who had kept Einar's father from flinging his infant body into the fire on the day of Einar's birth?

2. What reason had Einar's father given him for taking Einar back into his own home?

3. What is the most severe injury Claire receives as a result of the bird attack?

4. What do the villagers call the act of leaving the village?

5. Though Claire does not remember how old she is, what does Alys judge Claire's age to be when she arrives in the village?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Alys's reaction to the news that Claire is training to climb out?

2. What idea does Einar get after seeing Claire hold Bryn's baby?

3. For what purpose does Claire venture out of her house on a winter day to seek out Einar?

4. What examples of Einar's father's abuse within Einar's story involve Alys?

5. What does Einar say about Claire's stated motivation for climbing out?

6. For what element does Trademaster agree to trade Claire's son and what is the immediate result of the trade?

7. What elements of the job of fisherman make it dangerous for villagers who undertake the position?

8. What is Trademaster's attitude toward Claire's longing for her son?

9. Why do Bethan, Delwyth, and Eira stop playing a pretend game involving babies and instead switch to playing tea party?

10. What is revealed about the relationship of Old Benedikt and Alys?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novel Son is littered with the use of sensory details, particularly after Claire's arrival in the village after fleeing from the community in which she was born. Discuss the author's purpose in including the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and tactile sensations associated with Claire's new life in the village.

Essay Topic 2

Determine the author's message regarding the value of individualism within the novel Son. Support your claim with quotes from the narrative. Be sure to use a variety of characters and situations to back up your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

Many of the novel's characters undergo experiences that radically transform their lives, taking them far away from the expectations they have previously held. Analyze at least three characters' transformative experiences, the effects these events have on their lives, their methods for dealing with these changes, and ultimately, the author's purpose for including these types of disparities between expectation and reality.

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This section contains 1,035 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample