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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. Why does Lovelace expect to be pardoned if he succeeds in his plan to rape Mrs. Howe and Miss Howe?

2. When Miss Howe says she is going to write to Clarissa even though her mother does not allow her to, what does Clarissa tell her?

3. Who wrote the letter about Lovelace that Solmes reads?

4. Why does Clarissa decide London might be an acceptable place to stay?

5. Who is Mrs. Townsend?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the point of Clarissa leaving nothing to James, Arabella or Lovelace?

2. Is Lovelace's behavior after Clarissa's death what you expected? Why or why not?

3. Why is Clarissa's response to Charlotte explaining why she can't marry Lovelace ironic?

4. How does Arabella's letter refusing to forgive Clarissa develop Arabella's character?

5. How does Clarissa selling her clothes to pay for her funeral reflect on her situation?

6. After Lovelace has his "debate" with the God of Love, do you believe he has really changed his intentions toward Clarissa?

7. Describe Mr. Lovelace's character as it has been revealed in Letters 1-10.

8. Lovelace says he does not want to use force, but he doesn't know how to overcome Clarissa's will. What options does he have?

9. What do you think Lovelace means when he says he loves Clarissa? In other words, how do you think Lovelace would define love?

10. In letter 31, we see one of Lovelace's own letters for the first time. Does he seem different than you expected, or about the same? Why and how?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Although the form of an epistolary novel (a novel written in letters) is fairly unusual today, it was one of the most common ways for early novels to be written. Discuss the use of the epistolary form in "Clarissa." Discuss (a) the way letters are used to develop characterization, (b) the way epistolary form allows the author to create suspense, and (c) the way epistolary form allows readers to relate to characters.

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the techniques Richardson uses to develop characterization in "Clarissa." Using examples from any character, discuss how Richardson develops his characters through (a) their own representation of themselves in their own writing, (b) reports of what the characters do and say, and (c) what other characters say about them. What are the differences among these three methods of representing characters, in terms of how much weight each kind of evidence has?

Essay Topic 3

Marriage in the eighteenth century (especially for wealthy people) was seen both as a relationship that might begin in romance and as a legal and financial contract. Discuss three marriages in this novel in terms of their romantic and financial aspects.

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