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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 Dorcas refuse to answer any more questions after telling the mysterious servant that Lovelace and Clarissa are married?

2. Which of the following is one of the things Lovelace wrote in a forged letter, which is made to look like it was written by Miss Howe?

3. What makes Lord M a bad choice for someone to give Clarissa away at the wedding?

4. Why does Clarissa run away after the fire at Widow Sinclair's house?

5. When James writes to Clarissa and tells her she is basically under house arrest, where exactly does he tell her she has to stay?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think Clarissa keeps refusing the money people offer her?

2. 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?

3. Do you believe Lovelace will really go through with his plot to rape Miss Howe and Mrs. Howe? Why or why not?

4. Do you think it is fair for Clarissa to have decided that because of the fire she will never marry Lovelace?

5. What options does Clarissa have other than seeking protection with Lovelace's aunt?

6. Do you think it's right for Miss Howe to wear mourning clothes, even though Clarissa told her not to? Why or why not?

7. Why do you think Lovelace can not maintain his feelings of repentance?

8. It seems almost impossible for Clarissa to escape Lovelace. What factors combine to make it so hard for Clarissa to escape?

9. How does the reaction of Lovelace's friends to Clarissa characterize Lovelace's friends?

10. Why do you think Belford disagrees with Lovelace's determination to seduce Clarissa?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Mrs. Harlowe and Mrs. Howe. How do their styles of parenting differ?

Essay Topic 2

Foreshadowing is used frequently in Clarissa. Give at least two examples of foreshadowing of events that later occur. How does foreshadowing affect the reader's response to the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Belford and Lovelace. Both of them are strongly effected by their relationship with Clarissa. Compare and contrast their responses to her.

(see the answer keys)

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