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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 cannot get William alone the last time he sees Ted?

2. Where does William want to go?

3. What does Amy write to William?

4. How does Ted Driffield act the last time William saw him?

5. Who sees William off when he is leaving for fall term?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Lady Hodmarsh say about Amy Driffield?

2. What does Ashenden ignore but still wonder about?

3. What does William say when asked about Edward Driffield and what do they debate?

4. Describe Rosie.

5. What does William offer out of his memories of Ted and how does Roy respond?

6. Describe Mary-Ann.

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

8. What does Ashenden think about Roy as a person?

9. How does William initially meet Rosie?

10. Describe Ted Driffield.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Though in some ways, William is merely an observer and the story teller, Cakes and Ale might be considered a Bildungsroman, or Coming of Age story with William as the hero. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of William as he grows from a youth to an older man. Is he likeable? Sympathetic? What are his strengths and weaknesses? Do those strengths and weaknesses change as he ages? How does William change as he ages?

3. After thoroughly analyzing William's character, do you think Cakes and Ale could be considered Williams Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in Cakes and Ale who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Cakes and Ale is perhaps more of a character-driven plot rather than action-driven. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character-driven or action-driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character-driven versus action-driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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