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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 is the character that startles Briony as she is trying to write another story for her brother?

2. Who summons everyone to dinner, which interrupts the conversation between Lola and Briony?

3. Where does Cecilia lead Robbie when he begins to apologize for the note?

4. Who is Briony comforted to know is with her sister Cecilia as they are searching for the twins?

5. Who goads who as Robbie and Cecilia are making love?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. How does Briony reveal her true self within this section?

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

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

7. What has been haunting Emily lately?

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

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

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

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

Violence also plays a major role in this story, causing characters to be misconstrued and causing characters to create their own explanations.

Part 1: Describe the scene between Robbie and Cecilia which is seen as violence in Briony's eyes.

Part 2: Why do you think Briony mistook this scene for violence?

Part 3: What does the assumption of violence or negative actions (as in when Lola agrees with Briony's assessment of the letter) say about these characters? Why are they so sensitive to the possibility of violence?

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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