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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. How does the young wife say the crowd in the foyer parted?

2. How many generations of plate does the husband have?

3. What cryptic word is scrawled on the Tristan score?

4. Where are the keys laying?

5. What companion does the young wife say she sleeps with?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the mother's role in the story?

2. What do you know about Marquis's from other popular fiction?

3. Why do you think Carter focuses so much on the young girl's body?

4. What do you think is the significance of the red ribbon?

5. How does the young girl's father cast a shadow across the whole story?

6. What do you think the differences are between a novella and a novel?

7. Why does the young wife show little surprise that her mother is riding across the beach to save her?

8. In what way does the marquis lie about the appearance of the corridor that leads to his secret room?

9. Why do you think the piano is the only character Carter gives a name to?

10. Why do you think the young wife does not tell anyone what happened, but instead accepts the gossip?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why do you think the Marquis chose the young Frenchwoman as his wife? Do you think his presumptions were wrong?

Essay Topic 2

The book is set in Brittany in France. Why do you think Carter sets her story here? What meaning does it add? What difference do you think there would be in the story if it was set in another country or region?

Essay Topic 3

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact chronological setting of the novel. What year do you think it is set in? What clues are there to suggest it is from that year?

(see the answer keys)

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