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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 do intelligent people cease to do after age 30?

2. What is Kear free of?

3. How does Rosie treat William?

4. What does Kemp claim about Rosie and Ted?

5. What does Amy have to force Ted to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Amy Driffield ask of William?

2. Describe William's memory of the last time he saw Ted.

3. What does William think about on his way home from the lunch with Kear?

4. Describe Mrs. Greencourt's tea party, particularly the conversation about the Driffields and literature.

5. What happens when William finds Rosie at tea one evening and then after Rosie walks out the door?

6. What does William express about the concept of beauty?

7. Briefly describe William's interaction with Ted and Rosie when he is a youth.

8. Who comes to see William off to the new school term and how does William act?

9. Describe Ted Driffield.

10. What does Roy say about Amy as a wife and helpmate to Ted?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Titles often reveal much about one or more aspects of a novel. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think is the purpose of a title? How closely related to a major theme(s) of a book do you think a title should be? Or should it be?

2. The phrase "Cakes and Ale" appears in both Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and Aesop's Fable The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse. Research these two references and discuss the connection they may have to Maugham's book.

3. If you were the writer of Cake and Ale and your editor says the title must be changed, what would you choose? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Setting as far as place and time play an important role in Cakes and Ale, although at the time the time is contemporary. Discuss the following:

1. Compare and contrast several aspects of the setting of that day from how it would be today. Consider things such as cultural norms and expectations, technology, religion, and medicine.

2. Do you think Cakes and Ale would be different if it were set in the United States of America in that same era? Consider particularly class issues.

3. What issues that are present in the time of Cakes and Ale would still be issues today? What would no longer be issues? Consider such things as class, women's roles, sexual freedom, propriety, manners, and integrity.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Cakes and Ale, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur. Did you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in Cakes and Ale. How do you think Cakes and Ale be different if this were about the life of working class people rather than artists?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,445 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample