Quiz Lucy by the Sea Elizabeth Strout

Lucy by the Sea Quiz: 20 Questions on Plot, Characters, and Themes

Test your knowledge of Elizabeth Strout's Lucy by the Sea with this 20-question quiz covering plot, characters, themes, and synthesis. Each question is based on the novel's events and themes. Answers and explanations are provided at the end. For more context, see the book overview, questions and answers, and the ending explained.

Plot and Sequence Questions (1–8)

1. What event in early March prompts William to insist on taking Lucy out of New York City?

  • A) His friend Jerry died of the virus. - B) His daughter Becka got sick. - C) The city went into lockdown. - D) Lucy's apartment building had a case.

2. Where does William take Lucy to quarantine?

  • A) A rented house in Crosby, Maine - B) His sister's home in Orono - C) A hotel in Connecticut - D) A cabin in the Adirondacks

3. What does Lucy find on William's car one day?

  • A) A flat tire - B) A note from a neighbor - C) A cardboard sign reading “GET OUT OF HERE NEW YORKERS! GO HOME!!” - D) A parking ticket

4. What secret does William reveal about his health in Chapter Five?

  • A) He had a heart attack - B) He had prostate cancer surgery that left him impotent and incontinent - C) He has diabetes - D) He is going blind

5. What happens to Melvin after William and Lucy persuade him to quarantine?

  • A) He refuses and goes back to Florida - B) He gets Covid and is hospitalized for ten days - C) He moves in with them - D) He tests negative and leaves

6. What tragic event occurs in Chapter Six?

  • A) Lucy's sister Vicky dies - B) Lucy's brother Pete dies of Covid - C) William's sister Lois dies - D) Bob Burgess's wife Margaret dies

7. What does Lucy do with her New York apartment?

  • A) She rents it out - B) She gives it up and moves her belongings to Maine - C) She sells it to William - D) She keeps it but never visits

8. What does Chrissy confess to Lucy during their walk in Central Park?

  • A) She is planning to divorce Michael - B) She had a miscarriage in January and was considering an affair - C) She is moving to California - D) She lost her job

Character Motivation Questions (9–13)

9. Why does William insist on taking Lucy out of New York City?

  • A) He wants to reconcile with her - B) He wants to save her life from the virus - C) He wants to show her his sister - D) He wants to escape his own problems

10. Why does Lucy feel angry at William after the grocery store incident?

  • A) He didn't defend her when a woman yelled at her - B) He bought the wrong groceries - C) He left her alone in the car - D) He refused to wear a mask

11. Why does William decide to donate money to a Maine university for potato research?

  • A) He wants to honor his father - B) He regrets accepting his grandfather's wartime fortune - C) He wants to help his sister's nephew - D) He wants to impress Lucy

12. Why does Becka leave Trey?

  • A) He is abusive - B) He has an affair - C) He loses his job - D) She falls in love with someone else

13. Why does Lucy decide to publish her Arms Emory story despite her concerns?

  • A) She needs the money - B) William encourages her, saying it might help people understand each other - C) Bob Burgess insists - D) She wants to provoke controversy

Theme and Symbol Questions (14–17)

14. What does the ocean represent for Lucy throughout the novel?

  • A) Fear and danger - B) Comfort and constancy, reflecting her sadness - C) A barrier to her old life - D) A source of income

15. What does the guard tower symbolize for William?

  • A) The threat of war - B) The world's troubles and the fragility of democracy - C) A reminder of his father's past - D) A place to watch for ships

16. What does the robin's egg Lucy finds symbolize? (Short answer)

17. What does the squirrel's cry symbolize in the novel?

  • A) The pain of losing one's home - B) The noise of the city - C) The presence of wildlife - D) A warning of danger

Synthesis Questions (18–20)

18. How does Lucy's relationship with William evolve over the course of the novel? (Short answer)

19. What role does Bob Burgess play in Lucy's life? (Short answer)

20. How does the novel explore the theme of isolation and connection? (Short answer)

Answer Key

| Question | Answer | Explanation | |----------|--------|-------------| | 1 | A | William tells Lucy that his friend Jerry had the virus and died, which makes him determined to get her out of the city. | | 2 | A | William drives Lucy to a rented house in Crosby, Maine, arranged by Bob Burgess. | | 3 | C | Lucy finds a cardboard sign on William's car reading “GET OUT OF HERE NEW YORKERS! GO HOME!!” | | 4 | B | William reveals he had prostate cancer surgery in October that left him impotent and incontinent, a secret he had kept. | | 5 | B | After being persuaded to quarantine, Melvin gets Covid and is hospitalized for ten days. | | 6 | B | Pete falls ill, refuses to go to the hospital, tells Lucy he loves her, and dies. | | 7 | B | Lucy gives up her New York apartment, and Bob arranges for her belongings to be moved to Maine. | | 8 | B | Chrissy admits she had a miscarriage in January and was considering an affair, but she later reconciles with Michael. | | 9 | B | William says, “Lucy, yours is the life I wanted to save,” indicating his primary motive is her safety. | | 10 | A | Lucy confronts William: “You weren’t even nice to me after that woman yelled at me.” | | 11 | B | William regrets accepting his grandfather's wartime fortune and decides to donate money to a Maine university for potato research. | | 12 | B | Becka reports that Trey is having an affair, which leads to their separation. | | 13 | B | William encourages her: “Well, it might help people understand each other. Just publish it, Lucy.” | | 14 | B | Lucy finds the ocean a huge comfort, and her sadness rises and falls like the tides. | | 15 | B | William says the tower reminds him of the world's troubles and that democracy may not survive. | | 16 | Hope and new life; a small sign of renewal amid the pandemic. | Lucy finds a robin's egg during a walk, which can be seen as a symbol of fragility and promise. | | 17 | A | The squirrel cries because its home has been taken away, symbolizing displacement and loss. | | 18 | They move from being ex-spouses to companions, eventually rekindling intimacy and deciding to live together in Maine. They share a bed, support each other through grief and illness, and embrace a new life together. | | 19 | Bob becomes a close friend and confidant, helping Lucy feel less lonely, arranging her move to Maine, and offering emotional support. He also helps William set up her writing studio and provides practical help during crises. | | 20 | The pandemic forces physical isolation, but the novel shows how characters maintain connections through phone calls, visits, and acts of kindness. Lucy finds connection with William, Bob, and her daughters, while also experiencing profound loneliness. The novel suggests that even in isolation, human bonds can sustain us. |

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