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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. How do the Christmas holidays go at Hetton?

2. Who is anxiously awaiting Brenda's arrival back at Hetton?

3. Who has come to the station to meet Tony?

4. What does Tony do for the women?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Brenda do the rest of the weekend at Hetton and why do you think she does those things?

3. What do you think about Jock's behavior towards his friend, Tony?

4. Is it likely that John Beaver at this point is not really interested in pursuing something with Brenda Last?

5. What do you think is a theme that is introduced in this first chapter?

6. What occurs in this chapter to demonstrate how far Brenda has sunken into self deceit?

7. How is it obvious that though Brenda thinks she is in control of the relationship between her and Beaver, he actually probably has more control over it?

8. What demonstrates how very widespread the knowledge about Brenda's affair is and how much it is a topic of conversation?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is a lot of foreshadowing throughout this story. Discuss the following:

1. How is Brenda's affair with John Beaver foreshadowed? Give examples.

2. How is John Andrew's death foreshadowed? Give examples.

3. Do you think Tony becoming lost in the jungle "forever" is foreshadowed? Why or why not? Give examples.

4. Do you think the author's use of foreshadowing is effective? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

A HANDFUL OF DUST takes its title from a T.S. Eliot poem titled "The Wasteland." Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Discuss the similar themes that are jointly present in "The Wasteland" and A Handful of Dust.

2. Compare and contrast the use of a poem versus a novel to express similar ideas.

3. Discuss why both Eliot and Waugh, who wrote in the same era, would be interested in the same social themes.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare and contrast Tony Last with John Beaver.

2. Compare and contrast Brenda Last as she really is with whom Tony Last believes she is.

3. Discuss the roles of Jock Grant-Menzies, Mrs. Beaver, Marjorie, Dr. Messinger and Mr. Todd in the lives of the two major characters, Brenda and Tony Last. Is everyone of these secondary characters vital to the novel? Are any of them a foil to one of the major characters?

(see the answer keys)

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