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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 the color of the dress Cecilia finally chooses to wear to dinner?

2. Who is put to bed to wait for the doctors after the attack in the yard?

3. Who is pacing from room to room with a cigarette and wringing a handkerchief?

4. Who catches Robbie and Cecilia in the library?

5. Whose presence makes the household settle, which is why everyone is quiet and slows down by the closed library door?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Cecilia doing in response to the attack?

2. What does Emily think about the disappearance of the twins?

3. What is Lola's response to the letter that Robbie has written for Cecilia, as told to her by Briony?

4. Who approaches Cecilia as she is changing for dinner?

5. When Cecilia puts on the pink dress, who does she think she looks like?

6. Who enters the library and catches Robbie and Cecilia?

7. Who interrupts Briony as she is trying to write a new story?

8. What is the explanation for the disembodied human leg that Briony thinks she sees?

9. What has been haunting Emily lately?

10. What does Emily think her husband will do soon?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The theme of imagination is one that plays out throughout this story. Many characters have dreams, while others take everyday events and turn them into fantastic stories.

Part 1: Does the introduction of imagination cause this story to be believable? In other words, can the reader trust everything he/she reads?

Part 2: Does imagination seem to create positive results or negative results? Or both?

Part 3: Describe one scene in which imagination plays a central role. What is the outcome of this situation?

Essay Topic 2

The idea of a letter becomes an important plot point at several times in this story.

Part 1: List three instances in which a letter delivers an important message.

Part 2: Are there any instances in which a letter is used for a positive purpose? What are they?

Part 3: In today's times, could these messages be delivered by e-mail? Or is the structure of the letter crucial to its value and its worth? Does the actual format of the letter add to the meaning?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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