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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 does Jenny interpret John's death?

2. Why does Jock apologize?

3. What do Tony and Messinger do?

4. Who is Tony's new partner?

5. What does Messinger hope to find now?

Short Essay Questions

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

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. How does Reggie present the situation about Brenda to Tony?

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

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

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

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

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 Tony finally take some of his own personal power back and take charge of his destiny?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of themes in this story, one of which has already been discussed. Discuss one of the following:

1. Choose two major themes (other than that of class) and analyze them and discuss examples of where that theme appears in the text.

2. Compare and contrast two major themes in the novel to those themes found in other texts/movies with which you are familiar.

3. Other than class, which theme do you think is the major theme of the book? Discuss why and give example

Essay Topic 2

Waugh offers an alternate ending in his serialization of A HANDFUL OF DUST in an American magazine. In that ending, Tony returns to England, is reunited with Brenda, moves into her flat and begins a series of affairs himself. Discuss the following:

1. Which ending to the novel do you think is closer to reality? Why?

2. Which ending is a more honorable one for Tony? Why?

3. Do you think Brenda would have welcomed Tony back and then stayed with it despite his affairs? Explain your reasoning using examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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