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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 NOT one of Florence's duties in her part-time job at Wigmore Hall?

2. The first sentence does NOT describe the narrative's main couple by using which description?

3. For what reason is Florence "an old hand" (3) at traveling?

4. How does Florence feel about the prospect of having children?

5. What is NOT one of Florence's favorite actions that the other girls at her hostel take?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the symbolism of Edward's B- grade on his dissertation?

2. For what reasons does Florence say it is harder for her to contradict her father, Geoffrey, than it is for her to contradict her mother Violet?

3. How is foreshadowing present within the narrator's description of Florence's attitude toward arguments?

4. How does the author use historical context in order to shed light on Florence and Edward's behavior during their wedding night dinner?

5. What technique does Florence use in order to conceal her feelings from her family?

6. How does Florence describe her mother Violet's use of physical affection?

7. What is the effect of Florence finding the penciled performance notes in the trash at the concert hall?

8. What is the significance of the "contradiction" (28) the author describes as living within Florence's soul from the moment Edward asks her to marry him?

9. What does the television set symbolize within the narrative?

10. What phenomenon does Florence witness when it comes to girls her age getting boyfriends and how does her realization shape her behavior?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

William Faulkner once famously claimed that the most important literature deals with the subject of the human heart in conflict with itself. Explain how the theme of Human versus Self is demonstrated within Ian McEwan's novella On Chesil Beach. Create a decisive, arguable claim and prove it with quotes from the book.

Essay Topic 2

Write a critical essay about the novella while using the critical power theory lens of feminist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the novella's treatment of gender roles, the objectification of women, the silencing of women's voices, misogyny's effects upon society, or any other issues related to feminist theory that can be found in the book.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss how the themes of truth, lies, and hypocrisy are interwoven within the novella’s narrative.

(see the answer keys)

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