View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does William do in the evenings while living at Vincent Square?

2. Who is Lionel Hillier?

3. What does Isabel say Rosie looks like in the painting of her?

4. In what type of neighborhood do the Driffields reside?

5. What is the Driffield's furniture like?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the scene where William is talking to Hillier about painting Rosie.

2. Who are a couple other regulars at the Driffields' parties?

3. Describe Isabel Trafford.

4. Describe Amy Driffield.

5. Briefly describe how William and Rosie's relationship continues.

6. Describe Isabel's work on Ted's behalf.

7. What does William think about the House of Lords and how he would assign rank within literature?

8. Describe Rosie's home and Rose herself.

9. How does William describe his visit to his former quarters and his landlady, Mrs. Hudson?

10. Describe the situation that keeps Rosie occupied for a couple weeks and which infuriates William.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 10, over dinner, the Vicar announces that the Driffields have bolted to London, abandoning their debts. Discuss the following:

1. How do Mary-Ann and Rosie's view of abandoning their debt coincide? Do you agree with their point of view? See chapter 13 for Rosie's point of view about the debt.

2. What do you think it says about the Driffields that they flee debts accrued? Do you think the fact that the debts are in a small town by small merchants changes the morality of it? Why or why not?

3. By the time Ted has been married to Amy for a while, William notes that Amy has reformed him from being a Bohemian. What is a Bohemian? Are Bohemians less reputable than a "normal" person? Would a Bohemian be more likely to abandon his/her debt? Explain your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Titles often reveal much about one or more aspects of a novel. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think is the purpose of a title? How closely related to a major theme(s) of a book do you think a title should be? Or should it be?

2. The phrase "Cakes and Ale" appears in both Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and Aesop's Fable The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse. Research these two references and discuss the connection they may have to Maugham's book.

3. If you were the writer of Cake and Ale and your editor says the title must be changed, what would you choose? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Though in some ways, William is merely an observer and the story teller, Cakes and Ale might be considered a Bildungsroman, or Coming of Age story with William as the hero. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of William as he grows from a youth to an older man. Is he likeable? Sympathetic? What are his strengths and weaknesses? Do those strengths and weaknesses change as he ages? How does William change as he ages?

3. After thoroughly analyzing William's character, do you think Cakes and Ale could be considered Williams Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in Cakes and Ale who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,541 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample