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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 many trips has Tony made in his life?

2. How does Jenny interpret John's death?

3. Where does Tony meet his traveling companion?

4. Of whom does Tony not see much before she leaves?

5. Where is Jenny going?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is it that Tony seems to be the "bad" guy in a number of ways?

2. How has Tony again entrusted his life to someone for whom that trust is not valid?

3. How does Brenda use the death of her son to justify her request for a divorce?

4. What is the symbolic significance of the first book that Tony reads?

5. Why does Tony have to appear to be in the wrong?

6. How has John Beaver fared through the saga of Tony and Brenda's failed marriage?

7. What happens after Brenda has written Tony and telling him about John Beaver?

8. How does Tony finally take some of his own personal power back and take charge of his destiny?

9. How long is it before Tony and Messinger are able to talk to the men of the village about what they want?

10. How does Brenda take the news of her son's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Divorce in that era of England is not a simple matter. There are ways one has to "jump through hoops" in order to get a divorce. Discuss one of the following:

1. Discuss what Tony has to do in order to effect an honorable divorce from Brenda. What do you think of his methods?

2. Compare and contrast the divorce proceedings of the time in the novel with the 21st century America. Which seems to be a better method? Do both ways have their good points? Pitfalls?

3. How does Brenda's greed in the divorce and throughout the story end up causing her to have nothing? Is this just desserts? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

As in almost any text, there are a number of symbols and metaphors present in A HANDFUL OF DUST. Discuss one of the following:

1. Choose three major symbols in the novel and discuss their meanings as they occur in various places throughout the text.

2. Choose two major metaphors in the novel and discuss their meanings as they occur in various places throughout the text.

3. Discuss the symbols of Hetton Place as it relates to Tony's ideals and beliefs.

(see the answer keys)

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