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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 is Tony and Messinger's second base camp?

2. How does Tony feel during his travels upstream in a small boat.

3. To what sound does Tony awaken?

4. What is wrong with Tony?

5. What surprises Tony?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the inadequacies of the social circle in which Brenda revolves evident with the death of John Andrew?

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

3. Why do you think Tony decides to go away for awhile?

4. How does Tony manage to survive in the jungle?

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

6. What do Messigner and Tony decide to do and do you think they make the best choice?

7. What seems to be contrasted in this chapter?

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

9. What is Tony's position in Brenda's social circle by the end of this chapter?

10. What seems most important to Tony as he lies possibly dying and alone?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Often the people hurt the most in a situation like that of Tony and Brenda's is a child. John Andrew plays a pivotal role in the melodrama of Brenda's descent into selfishness. Discuss the following:

1. Compare the relationship between John Andrew and each of his parents.

2. How does the relationship between John Andrew and his parents (individually) change over the course of the story?

3. How does John Andrew tip the scales in Brenda's decision to reveal all to Tony? Do you think she is genuinely grieved about her son's death or glad for an opportunity for "total freedom"?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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