View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Briony certain will benefit her writing, even if it means hurting others and invading their privacy?

2. Who does the answer to #151 say that she saw?

3. Who is glaring at Robbie as the dinner meal is beginning?

4. Who catches Robbie and Cecilia in the library?

5. Who casts themselves as the protector of Cecilia as they see Cecilia going into the library with Robbie?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Cecilia run off to in order to be free of her mother?

2. What has been haunting Emily lately?

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

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

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

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

7. How does Briony escape Cecelia's questioning?

8. Why is Betty furious with Emily?

9. Why is Briony the one who is left with the adults to tell the story?

10. Why do the probationers live in constant fear of Sister Marjorie Drummond?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

The character of Cecilia is one that seems a bit complicated to the reader and to the actual story's movement.

Part 1: Describe the character of Cecilia.

Part 2: Is Cecilia as grown up as she seems to be? Why or why not? Does Cecilia feel she is the adult everyone believes her to be?

Part 3: How is Cecilia affected by the loss of Robbie and by the story of Briony?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 687 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample