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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. At what age is Ashenden when he first meets Driffield?

2. What is Rosie able to do for long periods without growing bored?

3. From where does Amy often have to fetch Ted?

4. What does Lady Hodmarsh call Amy?

5. How does Ashenden characterize people in the countryside where he is raised?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe Rosie.

3. Describe Roy Kear.

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

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

6. How does Ted know the Kemp family and what does he think of them?

7. How does William initially meet Rosie?

8. What happens when William comes home for Easter Break and what surprising announcement does the Vicar make?

9. Describe Quinten Forde.

10. Describe William Ashenden.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 5, Gossipy maid Mary-Ann fills young William in on the Driffields' history. Discuss the following:

1. What is ironic about Mary-Ann gossiping about someone else being immoral? Research what both the Jewish Torah and the Christian New Testament says about gossip and slander.

2. What is hypocritical about Mary-Ann gossiping about someone else being immoral?

3. Do you think it is moral for Mary-Ann to be telling a youth the information she gives William? Why or why not?

4. William interprets the information from Mary-Ann through the lens of his reading novels that deals with such topics. What does this say about William's worldly experiences? His being ready to hear what Mary-Ann says?

Essay Topic 2

Though Somerset Maugham denies it, many literary critics and readers think there is a clear resemblance of Ted Driffield to the real-life Thomas Hardy and Roy Kear to Hugh Walpole. Some even say that the narrator, William Ashenden represents Somerset Maugham. Discuss the following:

1. Research the French phrase roman à clef or roman à clé and discuss how that term is applicable to Cakes and Ale.

2. Research the author Thomas Hardy and compare his life to that of Ted Driffield. How are the similar? How are they different? Are the similarities enough to warrant the belief that Roy Kear represents Walpole?

Does Hardy seem to have a Rosie, Amy, or Isabel in his life? What details about Hardy's life that you uncover seem to be the same as what is written about Driffield?

3. Research the author Hugh Walpole and compare his life to that of Roy Kear. How are the similar? How are they different? In what ways to their personalities seem similar? Are the similarities enough to warrant the belief that Roy Kear represents Walpole?

4. Research the author Somerset Maugham and compare his life to that of William Ashenden. How are they similar? How are they different? In what ways to their personalities seem similar? Are the similarities enough to warrant the belief that William Ashenden represents Maugham?

Essay Topic 3

Ted Driffield is married twice and has one other woman figure prominently in his life. Discuss the following:

1. Compare and contrast Rosie Driffield with Amy Driffield. Who seems more real, sincere, or honest? Which of them do you think was more helpful to Ted's artistic endeavors? Why? Do you think Rosie could have done for Ted what Amy does for Ted? What about Amy doing for Ted what Rosie does for him? Explain fully.

2. Compare and contrast Rosie Driffield with Isabel Trafford. Who seems more real, sincere, or honest? Which of them do you think was more helpful to Ted's artistic endeavors? Why? Do you think Rosie could have done for Ted what Isabel does for him? What do you think about Isabel doing for Ted what Rosie does for him? Explain fully.

3. Compare and contrast Amy Driffield with Isabel Trafford. Who seems more real, sincere, or honest? Which of them do you think was more helpful to Ted's artistic endeavors? Why? Do you think Amy could have done for Ted what Isabel does for Ted? What about Isabel doing for Ted what Amy does for him? Explain fully.

(see the answer keys)

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