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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 is William trying to do on Easter break?

2. At what age is Ashenden when he first meets Driffield?

3. What does Amy write to William?

4. How does Driffield appear physically the last time William sees him?

5. Why does the person telling William the story of the Driffields say Ted marries Rosie.

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe William Ashenden.

2. Why does Roy want William's assistance in writing Ted's biograph and what is Roy's purpose in doing so?

3. Describe Mary-Ann.

4. What does William express about the concept of beauty?

5. What does Ashenden think about Roy as a person?

6. What does William think about Ted's depiction of the high-born and others comparing Ted s to Shakespeare?

7. What does William learn from Mary-Ann?

8. Describe Quinten Forde.

9. What does William say when asked about Edward Driffield and what do they debate?

10. How does William initially meet Rosie?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mrs. Encombe is Blackstable's first liberated New Woman--she wears her hair short and her skirt barely covers the top of her boots. People are intimidated by her intellect and joke nervously about her. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze how women are viewed in Cakes and Ale. Does it seem a woman is either a saint or whore? Is this the view of the author or the culture? Or both?

2. Why do you think Rosie is treated sympathetically in Cakes and Ale by the narrator?

3. How does Ted treat Rosie? Does he respect her? Does he care that she violates social convention?

4. Why is Mrs. Encombe viewed askance? Would she be looked at the same way today?

Essay Topic 2

Three of the prominent characters are writers. They are Ted Driffield, William Ashshenden and Roy Kear. Each one feels differently about his art. Discuss the following:

1. Compare and contrast Ted as an artist to William as an artist. How are they alike? Different? Who seems to be more of a "true" artist? Who seems most sincere in his artistic pursuit? Or are both equally sincere? What do each use as his "muse"? Do you think both would pursue writing regardless of the public's reception? Why or why not?

2. Compare and contrast Ted as an artist to Roy as an artist. How are they alike? Different? Who seems to be more of a "true" artist? Who seems most sincere in his artistic pursuit? Are both equally sincere? What do each use as his "muse?" Do you think both would pursue writing regardless of the public's reception? Why or why not?

3. Compare and contrast William as an artist to Roy as an artist. How are they alike? Different? Who seems to be more of a "true" artist? Who seems most sincere in his artistic pursuit? Or are both equally sincere? What do each use as his "muse?" Do you think both would pursue writing regardless of the public's reception? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Rosie Driffield is a person and idea that weaves itself throughout the entire narrative. One might even say that the book is about Rosie rather than Ted or any other character. Discuss the following:

1. Discuss Rosie's character. What are her strengths and weaknesses? Is she presented as a well-rounded or flat character? What is she passionate about? Is she passionate about anything? Is she honest and sincere? Is this a woman that men and maybe some women would die for? Why or why not?

2. Does Rosie change from when she is revealed as a young woman to when she is older and William writes about meeting her again in New York? How is she the same? How is she different?

3. Rosie ignores the rather strict conventions of her day for women. She neither feels bound by convention nor feels the need to flaunt her behavior. Research and state the beliefs about women and expectations of behavior for women of this late Victorian era. How does Rosie fit or break those beliefs/expectations? Give specific examples.

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