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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. What does Ralph look for while Catherine is bathing?

2. What does Ralph admit to Catherine one night?

3. How old was Catherine when her mother died?

4. What is Antonio's demeanor in the Italian house?

5. Which of the following is NOT something Ralph had meant to be in his life?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Catherine prostitute herself and how does Alice end up doing the same thing?

2. What does Catherine do to show that she is no longer trying to poison Truitt and is going to help him heal?

3. What does Antonio threaten to do if Catherine doesn't carry through on her promise to kill Truitt?

4. What does Antonio reveal to Catherine about his mother's death and what does he say he feels towards his father?

5. What is the link between poison and passion for Truitt at this point in his life?

6. Who is Violet Alverson and how does Antonio cavalierly destroy her?

7. How can the phrase, "Such things happened" be interpreted as it relates to Alice's dismal life?

8. When does Truitt realize he is being poisoned and what does he do about it?

9. What had been Truitt's experience with arsenic when he was a younger man?

10. How does a nightly glass of water symbolize Mrs. Larsen as a mother figure?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the role of girls and women in early 20th century America. What precedents do they feel compelled to follow? What restrictions do they have? What freedoms did they have that 21st century women do not have?

Essay Topic 2

The cold weather takes on an almost human persona in this story. What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

Essay Topic 3

Why does Ralph allow himself to be gradually poisoned by Catherine, even after he's aware of what's happening to him? What does this decision say about his character?

(see the answer keys)

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