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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. Why is there little blood to contend with?

2. What else does Mary have to consider about Karl's death?

3. What is the Princess going to do about getting Karl fired?

4. What does Karl ask of Mary, which she says no to?

5. Why is Mary angry with Rowley after he leaves?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Karl act when Mary pulls out the gun out of her purse?

2. What does Mary do that causes Karl to become even more angry and what is Karl's reply?

3. What startles Mary soon after Karl kills himself?

4. How does Mary feel about what Karl tells her about his life?

5. How does Mary appear as she leaves for the luncheon?

6. What does Mary rush to her dresser to find and why?

7. What does the Princess learn about the violinist and what is her response?

8. Why does Mary call Rowley?

9. What does Nina relate to Mary about what Nina learns from Agata?

10. What does Rowley point out to Mary to reassure her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Maugham chooses to write the novel as a third person, impersonal narrator. Discuss the following:

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this novel being written in the third person, impersonal narration?

2. Do you think the novel would be more effective in a different point of view? Which one if so? If not why do you think the impersonal narrator works the best?

3. Do you think the narrator in Up at the Villa is reliable, i.e., do you believe the narrator is completely unbiased? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

In chapter 4, when Karl and Mary are walking in the garden, Mary is suddenly beset with the idea of giving him the gift of a sexual encounter and they go back into the house together. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Mary has thought through the idea of having sex with Karl long enough?

2. Can a one-time, sexual encounter with a stranger be a gift? Do you think it would be something that is kind and loving to do?

3. Other than making Karl feel good for a few hours, could Mary's gift be of any long term value?

4. Do you think Karl is ungrateful to not just accept Mary's gift and willingness to be kind to a stranger?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Up at the Villa, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements (they may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not? Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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