A STEP BEYOND

TESTS AND ANSWERS

TEST 1

_____ 1. The Christmas dinner scene shows Stephen that

A. life is cruel and unfair
B. Dante sides with the Church against Parnell
C. Parnell was a wicked man

_____ 2. John Casey spits in an old woman's eye because she

A. called Kitty O'Shea a bad name
B. was drunk and disorderly
C. reviled Parnell

_____ 3. Heron and his classmates who harass Stephen represent

I. the forces of evil
II. the bigotry of the Church
III. the pressures of conformity

A. I and II only
B. II and III only
C. I and III only

_____ 4. Father Dolan pandybats Stephen because

A. Stephen has written a bad Latin theme
B. the pages of his theme are marred by inkblots
C. Stephen appears not to be working

_____ 5. A religious retreat is

A. a confession of guilt to a priest
B. prayers to a patron saint
C. an interval of religious reflection

_____ 6. Stephen runs off after the Whitsuntide play because

A. his parents aren't waiting for him
B. the girl he likes hasn't shown up
C. he has offended his teachers

_____ 7. Davin calls Stephen a "terrible man" because he

A. will not join the Gaelic League
B. refuses to sign a petition for world peace
C. talks against Ireland

_____ 8. Stephen's friend Lynch serves as

A. a father confessor to Stephen
B. comic relief as Stephen lectures on his art theory
C. a political agitator who tries to arouse Stephen's national pride

_____ 9. Major themes in this novel are

I. revolt against parental authority
II. doubts about religion
III. the role of poverty in the making of an artist

A. I and II only
B. I and III only
C. I, II, and III

_____ 10. Stephen's experience with Father Conmee develops the themes of

I. the false father
II. egotism
III. revolt against religion

A. I and II only
B. II and III only
C. I and III only

11. Discuss the novel's comic and satirical aspects.

12. Explain Joyce's choice of the name "Dedalus" for his hero.

13. Why is Stephen tempted to become a priest? Why does he decide against it?

14. Discuss bird imagery in the novel, from the opening scene to the final diary.

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