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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 is Tony?

3. How does Mrs. Rattery try to distract Tony while waiting for Jock and Brenda?

4. Where does Tony meet his traveling companion?

5. After the family meeting, where does one of Brenda's brothers go?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What are the indications that Tony may still be plagued by a "curse" or bad luck?

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

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

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

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

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

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?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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