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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. Where does Tony meet his traveling companion?
2. How much is Brenda now requesting as a settlement?
3. What young woman does Tony meet?
4. Where is Tony at the opening to this chapter?
5. What happens when Tony and Messinger awaken?
Short Essay Questions
1. What is rather ironic about how divorce is treated in this era?
2. What is Tony's position in Brenda's social circle by the end of this chapter?
3. What do Messigner and Tony decide to do and do you think they make the best choice?
4. What seems to be contrasted in this chapter?
5. How is the inadequacies of the social circle in which Brenda revolves evident with the death of John Andrew?
6. What are the indications that Tony may still be plagued by a "curse" or bad luck?
7. How has Tony again entrusted his life to someone for whom that trust is not valid?
8. How is it that Tony seems to be the "bad" guy in a number of ways?
9. What happens after Brenda has written Tony and telling him about John Beaver?
10. Why does Tony have to appear to be in the wrong?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
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 2
One of the major themes of A HANDFUL OF DUST is that of the differences among different classes in 1930's England. When the book opens, we meet Mrs. Beaver and her son John, who though they once lived in luxury, now get by through Mrs. Beaver's foray into the mundane middle class of making a living. Choose one of the following to discuss:
1. Discuss the idea of "class" as it exists in this novel. Be sure to include specific examples from the text and a definition of class.
2. Compare and contrast the life of upper-class England with that of either the middle class or lower class (i.e., the servants) as it exists in the novel. What is the upper class attitude towards earning a living? The middle class? The lower class? Which class seems the most practical? The most idealistic?
3. Discuss the following question: What is more of a barrier among people: class, education, religion or gender? Explain your reasoning fully using examples both from the text and your own life experiences.
Essay Topic 3
In Chapter 2, "English Gothic: Part One," the rooms of Hetton Abbey are named after characters in the story of King Arthur. Choose one of the following to discuss:
1. Discuss fully the legend of King Arthur.
2. Discuss how the legend of King Arthur and A Handful of Dust are similar and why.
3. Discuss how A Handful of Dust and the legend of King Arthur are different and why.
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This section contains 1,675 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) |
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