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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 flower does the young wife compare her husband to?

2. Who asks the young wife if she loves her husband?

3. Where does the young lady find the hidden spring?

4. What does the young wife do the moment the house keeper leaves the room?

5. How many husbands does the young wife say she sees?

Short Essay Questions

1. Do you think the Marquis is a conventional murderer in term of literature?

2. In what ways is the young woman experienced?

3. Why do you think Carter does not use names for the main characters?

4. Why does the mother allow her young daughter to marry the Marquis when she has reservations about him?

5. What is the girl's reaction to seeing her husband's pornography?

6. What is the significance of the key leaving a bloody heart on the young wife's forehead?

7. In what ways does the young wife romanticize her marriage to the Marquis?

8. Why do you think the story constantly harks back to past times?

9. Why do you think the young wife would want to marry the Marquis if she does not love him?

10. How does the Marquis seduce the young wife?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Carter uses many conventions from folk and fairy tales. What conventions do you recognize from the book? Take two examples and discuss how Carter uses them. Does she give them new meaning.

Essay Topic 3

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

(see the answer keys)

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