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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 did Isabel work tirelessly for after Rosie leaves Ted?

2. What is one thing that has not changed about Rosie when William sees her late in her life?

3. In what type of neighborhood do the Driffields reside?

4. How does Rosie keep in touch with Blackstable?

5. What happens to Kemp's business deal?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Ted meet and marry his second wife and what is Isabel Trafford's reaction?

2. Describe the scene where William is talking to Hillier about painting Rosie.

3. What are a couple things William discovers about Rosie?

4. What novel does Ted publish which is a ruthlessly unsentimental tale dealing with a child's death, and what is the public's response to the novel?

5. Describe the situation that keeps Rosie occupied for a couple weeks and which infuriates William.

6. What does William discover about Ted and his parties and how is this demonstrated by Isabel Trafford?

7. Describe Amy Driffield.

8. Describe Isabel's work on Ted's behalf.

9. Describe the Driffields's neighborhood and home.

10. What does William think about the House of Lords and how he would assign rank within literature?

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

William Ashenden is the narrator of the novel, which Maugham chooses to write the novel from the first-person point of view. Discuss the following:

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this novel being written in the first person?

2. Do you think the novel would be more effective in a different point of view? Which one if so? Why not if you think the first person works the best?

3. If the narrator is actually the author, much of what is written are real events witnessed by the author. Then does the first person make sense from that perspective? What if the book was truly fiction with no ties to "real" people, does the first-person point of view still seem like the best choice? Why or why not.

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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