Free Printable The Simple Gift - Symbols and Themes

1.

What is a symbol?

a)

A thing that you can see

b)

A thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.

c)

A thing that you can't see

d)

A thing that represents something in culture or society,

2.

Symbols operate on how many levels?

a)

Literal and metaphoric

b)

Literal and allegorical

c)

Literal and emotional

d)

Literal, cultural, emotional, metaphorical

3.

Which of the following is a frequent symbol in culture?

a)

A rock

b)

A dog

c)

A mobile phone

d)

A candle

4.

In The Simple Gift, frequent symbols include:

a)

Cars, flowers, grasslands, keys and motorways

b)

Train-tracks, keys, the river, birds and the natural environment

c)

Sunsets, train carriages, red roses and lyre birds

d)

Champagne bottles, rivers, cans and koalas

5.

Billy's emotions are often symbolically connected to

a)

Crows

b)

Dogs

c)

Sunshine

d)

Maccas meals

6.

The train tracks in The Simple Gift symbolise

a)

Travel, freedom, mobility, movement

b)

Social divisions and social divides

c)

Both social freedom and personal restriction

d)

Both personal freedom and social restriction

7.

Caitlin is associated with the symbol of

a)

Mops

b)

Shadows

c)

The simple gift of a meal

d)

Candles

8.

One of the most central symbols in the book include

a)

The keys that Old Bill gives to Billy

b)

The simple gift of the meal that Caitlin makes

c)

The mop at Maccas

d)

The crow at the station

9.

In The Simple Gift the river is associated with

a)

Cleaning one's self

b)

Social connection

c)

Romance

d)

Going with the flow

10.

The literal meaning of a key is

a)

The ability to unlock something mechanically

b)

The ability to unlock the future

c)

The ability to access freedom

d)

The ability to own your own home

11.

The symbolic meaning of key In The Simple Gift is

a)

Friendship and security

b)

Freedom and friendship

c)

Avoiding welfare

d)

Owning your own home

12.

The title of the book operates on

a)

A literal level

b)

A literal and emotional level

c)

A literal and a symbolic level

d)

A literal and cultural level

13.

Identify the pair which represent the right pairing of theme and symbol.

a)

River and Coming of Age

b)

Key and Redemption

c)

Train Tracks and Shadows

d)

Sunlight and Sadness

14.

All of these represent a correct pairing of theme and symbol except one....

a)

Keys and A Second Chance

b)

The simple gift of food and generosity

c)

The river and social connection

d)

Shadows and Kindness

15.

What are all the 'simple gifts'?

a)

Shadows, traintracks and bunkbrains

b)

Sunlight, shadows and sky-lines

c)

The keys, library books and meals

d)

The keys, sunlight and traintracks

16.

In many ways, Old Bill's journey begins at the end of the novel, where Billy's begun in the opening chapters. We call this a:

a)

Double entendre

b)

Circular plot

c)

A flashback narrative

d)

A similar storyline

17.

Which of the following does not describe the structure of the narrative

a)

Poetic

b)

Vignettes

c)

Episode

d)

Traditional narrative

18.

When Old Billy says Billy is 'as sharp as a tack', he is speaking in a

a)

Metphor

b)

Juxtaposition

c)

Alliteration

d)

Simile

19.

When Billy says 'I lay in bed with the old carriage walls closing in', he is using

a)

Descriptive language

b)

A hyperbole

c)

A metaphor

d)

Alliteration

20.

In The Simple Gift, the final chapter of 'The hobo skies' represents

a)

Connectivity

b)

Natural beauty

c)

New beginnings

d)

All of the above...obviously!

The Simple Gift - Symbols and Themes

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 10mins

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