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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. The city of London seems wrapped in a blanket of ___________.

2. What is the Man From Shrophsire's basic problem?

3. Mr. Bucket comes in disguise to arrest ___________.

4. Mr. Snagsby, by trade, is ___________.

5. Miss Flite resides at ___________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Lady Dedlock's favorite way to hide? Why does she die?

2. Richard Carstone has a strange way of seeing money. How does Esther illustrate his propensity to rationalize his spending?

3. What is discovered at Krook's that may change the course of the Jarndyce suit, and how does it affect the main characters?

4. Why does Mr. Guppy so easily agree that his marriage proposal to Esther is now moot?

5. The story has turned into a whodunit. Why is lady Dedlock suspected of murdering Mr. Tulkinghorn?

6. What is the point of Esther, Ada, and Richard spending a night at the Jellybys'? What does Dickens accomplish with this break in their journey toward Bleak House?

7. How does Jo affect Dickens' story? Is he a sympathetic character?

8. Discuss the ending of the story. What is Dickens' intention when he allows Esther to live on happily after all that has taken place?

9. What is the purpose of the Ghost Walk?

10. How did Gerge get so embroiled in the plot of this story? What is his role?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At one point in Bleak House, Richard Carstone intends to be an MRCS, or "Member of the Royal College of Surgeons." Research this institution and determine whether it still exists and its current status.

Essay Topic 2

The issue of suicide is raised several times in Bleak House. Dickens makes it seem almost a common topic of discussion, if not a common occurrence. Try to find some research that sheds light on the suicide rate in England during the 1800s, and see if you can draw any parallels with the economic condition of the country at that time.

Essay Topic 3

Write a well-researched paper about England's system of currency in the 1800s. Determine the name of each denomination and approximately what it was worth, or what it could buy. When did the system change and why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,170 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample