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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 is it that Cecilia feels satisfied that is undetectable?

2. Where does Robbie want to go, with the help of the money of Jack Tallis?

3. Who is told to carry the guest's bags upstairs?

4. In how many points of view does Briony want to write about the scene she has just seen?

5. Where does Briony see Robbie and Cecilia talking?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the children do in response to Emily because her illness stops Emily from giving her children a mother's attention?

2. What does Briony do as she constructs yet another story?

3. What does Robbie presume will happen in relation to the funding for his future schooling?

4. What is the name of the play Briony has been trying to prepare for a few days?

5. What mystery does Briony begin to contemplate as she is looking at her hand?

6. Why does Robbie think he should have turned down Leon's invitation to dinner?

7. Who does Emily trust to take care of things around the house while she tries to rest?

8. What does Lola see through the window of an unused bedroom?

9. What does Briony think she should have done for her brother, Leon's, return?

10. What does Briony realize to be one of the strengths of writing for drama?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The theme of love and romance is an expected one in a novel containing a young girl who looks to her older sisters to see what "real life" will be like when she grows up.

Part 1: What does Briony think romance and love should include?

Part 2: What do you think Cecilia uses as a definition of love and romance? What does love include, according to her?

Part 3: Cite two examples of love relationships in this story. What do they have to say about the idea of love and its ability to heal and to hurt?

Essay Topic 2

The letter from Robbie to Cecilia sets off a chain of events in many respects. The importance of this letter cannot be denied.

Part 1: Why does Robbie write this letter in the first place? What is he trying to achieve?

Part 2: Why does Robbie decide to write another letter that is less crude? Why would he have been so crude in the first place?

Part 3: Why is Cecilia not bothered by the crudeness of the letter she does receive? What does this say about her?

Essay Topic 3

The library scene between Robbie and Cecilia is one that can shock readers, while also causing them to learn more about these two characters and their feelings for each other.

Part 1: Why do you think this scene was narrated by Robbie instead of Cecilia?

Part 2: How did you feel about Robbie before the scene? After the scene?

Part 3: How does this scene show the true feelings between these two characters?

(see the answer keys)

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