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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. Where are Tony and Milly going?

2. Who is Tony's new partner?

3. What does a Pie Wie tribal member tell Mr. Todd?

4. What does John Beaver ask his mother?

5. How does Jenny interpret John's death?

Short Essay Questions

1. What seems most important to Tony as he lies possibly dying and alone?

2. What do Messigner and Tony decide to do and do you think they make the best choice?

3. How is the inadequacies of the social circle in which Brenda revolves evident with the death of John Andrew?

4. Why does Tony have to appear to be in the wrong?

5. How has Tony again entrusted his life to someone for whom that trust is not valid?

6. What seems to be contrasted in this chapter?

7. What is rather ironic about how divorce is treated in this era?

8. How does Reggie present the situation about Brenda to Tony?

9. How does Brenda take the news of her son's death?

10. What is the symbolic significance of the first book that Tony reads?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A HANDFUL OF DUST takes its title from a T.S. Eliot poem titled "The Wasteland." Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Discuss the similar themes that are jointly present in "The Wasteland" and A Handful of Dust.

2. Compare and contrast the use of a poem versus a novel to express similar ideas.

3. Discuss why both Eliot and Waugh, who wrote in the same era, would be interested in the same social themes.

Essay Topic 2

Some readers and/or critics might say that A HANDFUL OF DUST contains some elements of a dark comedy. Discuss the following giving specific examples:

1. Define dark comedy and give some examples of works of dark comedy in literature and/or film.

2. Discuss several scenes from A HANDFUL OF DUST that might contain elements of a dark comedy.

3. Why do you think Waugh incorporates elements of dark comedy into this work?

Essay Topic 3

Often the people hurt the most in a situation like that of Tony and Brenda's is a child. John Andrew plays a pivotal role in the melodrama of Brenda's descent into selfishness. Discuss the following:

1. Compare the relationship between John Andrew and each of his parents.

2. How does the relationship between John Andrew and his parents (individually) change over the course of the story?

3. How does John Andrew tip the scales in Brenda's decision to reveal all to Tony? Do you think she is genuinely grieved about her son's death or glad for an opportunity for "total freedom"?

(see the answer keys)

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