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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. Who makes the Christmas turkey in Isobel's home?

2. How does Maude respond to what Violet Angela tells her?

3. Where is Malcolm?

4. Who is the person sitting next to Gordon?

5. What does Isobel wonder in her confusion?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Isobel experience at Hilary's party?

2. How does Renee come to be a part of the Fairfax household?

3. What is related about Sir Francis Fairfax and his new wife?

4. When does Isobel awake from her coma, and what does she learn about why she is in the hospital?

5. How does Lady Fairfax end up being with Robert Kavanagh?

6. What does Isobel learn about several of the people in her circle of friends or acquaintances?

7. How does Violet Angela end up leaving Herbert and Maude?

8. What happens to Lady Margaret and Master Shakespeare?

9. What does Isobel do with Malcolm in Hilary's bedroom?

10. What does Herbert do to Violet Angela, and what is Maude's response to Violet's telling her about Herbert?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in "Human Croquet". Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of individual freedom in the story. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess individual freedom? Why? Why is individual freedom more difficult to obtain for some characters than other ones?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of abuse in "Human Croquet". Which characters are abusive to others, either physically, sexually or emotionally? Which are being abused? What is the response to the abuse of the ones being abused? Why do you think each of the abusers do so?

Essay Topic 2

Plots are sometimes said to be either character-driven or action-driven. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think "Human Croquet" is more character-driven or action-driven? Or balanced between the two? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Any work of fiction has some similarities, yet the structure can engender differences. Discuss the following:

1. Discuss the structure of "Human Croquet" and how it informs the plot.

2. Why do you think Atkinson chooses to structure "Human Croquet" the way she does? Give examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Many readers love novels and are indifferent to short stories, and vice versa. Discuss why you think some readers would enjoy one format over another?

4. Choose a short story or play and compare it to "Human Croquet" as far as how structure affects the reading experience.

(see the answer keys)

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