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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. Who strips to his/her underwear to retrieve the broken piece?

2. Who accepts full responsibility for breaking the item in #19?

3. Who does Emily count on to care for the guests when they arrive, which calms Emily and allows her to sleep?

4. How might Lola and her twin brothers be described at this point of the story?

5. From whom does Robbie have a letter offering to help him with medical school costs?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Briony want to prepare her play to be seen by others?

3. Where does Briony imagine herself to be?

4. What has fallen into disrepair, according to the narrative in this section?

5. What does Cecilia do in order to brighten up the guestroom for Paul Marshall, a friend of her brother's?

6. What does Briony imagine is happening when she sees Robbie and Cecilia are out at the fountain?

7. What does Emily think will prevent Cecilia from finding a husband?

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

9. What causes Cecilia to stop fixing the vase?

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

Emily Tallis is a fascinating creature who evokes pity and anger from readers who "meet" her.

Part 1: Describe the character of Emily Tallis.

Part 2: What do Emily's children think of her as a mother and as a person?

Part 3: Why do you think Emily Tallis suffers from illnesses so much? Is it purely physical or might it be psychological?

Essay Topic 2

The ending of Atonement is one that can be confusing to the reader, as Briony is the one telling the tale.

Part 1: What are the two endings to the story of Atonement?

Part 2: Which ending seems to be "real" in terms of the storytelling? Which one is more believable?

Part 3: What do you think happens to Cecilia and Robbie at the end of this story?

Essay Topic 3

While it seems this story is one about people, the setting also has something to tell the reader in terms of the characters' behaviors and their interactions.

Part 1: Describe the setting of the story in the first part of the book.

Part 2: Describe the setting in the "1999" section of the book.

Part 3: What does the setting seem to say about the Tallis family? What is the overall mood from start to finish in this setting?

(see the answer keys)

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