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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 Jenny's response to the house?

2. What lifts Brenda's spirits?

3. Who entertains John while Tony is out of the house?

4. Who is still "in the dark" about Brenda's affair?

5. What does Brenda suggest to Tony?

Short Essay Questions

1. How are the rooms of Hetton symbolic?

2. What happens in this chapter that indicates Brenda's lack of devotion as a mother?

3. Do you think John Beaver knows what the upper class people with whom he wants to associate think of him?

4. What sort of "struggle" seems to be going on between Brenda and John Beaver?

5. Give a brief description of the Last family members.

6. What demonstrates that Tony is trying to regain emotional intimacy with Brenda?

7. Why is Beaver annoyed at Polly's party, but why does he put up with his annoyance?

8. What demonstrates Tony's inadvertent complicity in Brenda's new life and affair with another man?

9. How would you characterize John Beaver's idea of a relationship with a woman (including Brenda)?

10. How is the last part of this chapter a transitional chapter for Brenda and Tony's relationship?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The men in A HANDFUL OF DUST often seem to get the bad end of the stick from the women in their lives. Some say that Waugh's somewhat compassionate treatment of Brenda and other women in his other novels who have "strayed" is a reflection of his own life. Discuss the following:

1. How does Waugh portray the relationship between men and women in A HANDFUL OF DUST?

2. Do you think Waugh's portrayal is accurate? How much of his portrayal of how the women treat the men may be a reflection of his personal experience? (This may require a little research).

3. Are there any women in the text who are portrayed admirably? Who? Give examples.

Essay Topic 2

Tony is an aristocrat who is still immersed in the Victorian era. His wife, Brenda is the embodiment of the more modern times and beliefs. Discuss one of the following:

1. Discuss characteristics of the Victorian era and where those appear in the novel.

2. Discuss the characteristics of the post-Victorian and where those appear in the novel.

3. Compare and contrast the Victorian era with the post-Victorian era of the first several decades of the 20th century.

Essay Topic 3

Evelyn Waugh is known for his social satires, A HANDFUL OF DUST being one of his most well-known. Discuss the following:

1. What is a social satire? Give other examples besides A Handful of Dust.

2. Discuss why A Handful of Dust is considered a social satire. Give specific examples to support your ideas.

3. Discuss how effective A HANDFUL OF DUST is as a social satire.

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