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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 maritime connections does Quoyle have?

2. What job did Quoyle's father have?

3. What visual effect does fog have, according to Billy?

4. What is the Back Buddy for?

5. What complicates the family's stay at the motel?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Quoyle's attitude to Petal and her death?

2. What do we learn about the aunt in Chapter 6?

3. What insight into Jack Buggit does the harbormaster convey to Quoyle?

4. How does the aunt respond to Quoyle's doubt over his ability to do the job?

5. In what way is Bunny showing herself to be different from her father?

6. In what way are Billy and Quoyle connected?

7. What does Chapter 10 show the reader about the relationship of people to the sea?

8. How did the Quoyle house come to be moved to the point where it now stands?

9. What is revealed to Quoyle during the trip to Gaze Island with Billy Pretty?

10. Why do we feel at this point that there is cause to be optimistic about Quoyle's growing friendship with Wavey?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Every character in THE SHIPPING NEWS deals with some kind of adversity. Choose TWO characters.

1) Explain the adversity the characters experience and describe the way in which they deal with it.

2) Discuss differences in the characters' approach and comment on the outcomes of their adversity.

3) What do we learn about the effect of adversity on human lives?

Essay Topic 2

THE SHIPPING NEWS is about physical and internal journeys.

Our lives can be described as journeys during which we encounter many experiences, some pleasant, others terrifying. Our journeys involve the physical, as we move from place to place, and the emotional/psychological, as we respond to what happens to us. Examine the way journeys shape the character and destiny of Quoyle, Agnis, Hamm and Jack Buggit.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about the important contrasts that are represented in THE SHIPPING NEWS.

1) Focus on contrasting values and attitudes. In what ways are those in Newfoundland different from what Quoyle has left behind? Illustrate by focusing on three characters and make frequent reference to the text.

2) Consider the contrast between life in Killick-Claw and that which Partridge describes in his phone call from Los Angeles.

3) Discuss the ways in which these contrasts support the themes of the novel.

(see the answer keys)

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