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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. It turns out that the deceased Mr. Krook is ___________.

2. The debts of Bagnet and George will be forgiven if they ___________.

3. George's mother turns out to be ___________.

4. The childish Mr. Skimpole was paid five pounds ___________.

5. Mrs. Snagsby is jealous of her husband's contact with ___________.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A "beadle" was something of a cross between a police officer and church official. Research the role of beadles in England in the 1800s. How did society view them at that time? It is helpful to re-read Chapter 11 of Bleak House about the beadle's arrival at Krook House at the time of Nemo's death.

Essay Topic 2

The issue of suicide is raised several times in Bleak House. Dickens makes it seem almost a common topic of discussion, if not a common occurrence. Try to find some research that sheds light on the suicide rate in England during the 1800s, and see if you can draw any parallels with the economic condition of the country at that time.

Essay Topic 3

There is much intrigue and undelivered communication that makes the plot of Bleak House complex and, at times, confusing. Examine in an essay all the ways in which Dickens portrays the dangers of mixed messages and miscommunication in Bleak House.

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