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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 does Forster say is one of the lowest of human faculties?

2. Aristotle said characters give the reader qualities through _________.

3. What is the thing a novelist should never aim for, but fails if this is not achieved?

4. What is the name of the last ship in Moby Dick that Forster thinks is aptly named?

5. Forster refers to prophecy as being a(n) _______ in the novelist's voice.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Forster say that the fantasy aspect of a novel requires from the reader?

2. What is the metaphor that Forster uses to describe literary criticism?

3. What does Forster mean when he describes the novel Thais as being in the shape of an hourglass?

4. What is the difference between an inquisitive novel reader and an intelligent one, according to Forster?

5. How does a Marcel Proust novel demonstrate the aspect of rhythm?

6. What two qualities does Forster believe the aspect of prophecy demands from a reader?

7. What does Forster mean when he describes a novel with a grand chain pattern?

8. Why does Forster refer to George Elliot as a preacher?

9. What is Forster's opinion of readers who do not like fantasy?

10. How does Forster describe the Dostoevsky character, Dmitri Karamazov?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is Forster's exploration of the aspects of fantasy and prophecy at the core of his overall philosophy on the novel? What is the fine line between these two aspects?

Essay Topic 2

How does Forster's point about how varied points of view reflect life parallel his points about characters made in the first People section?

Essay Topic 3

Why is Forster reluctant to admit that the primary component of a novel is its story?

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