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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. Where do Flora and Elfine go that night?

2. Who promises to secure invitations to the Hawk-Monitor's

3. What do Richard and Elfine announce at the end of the evening?

4. About what is Adam in shock?

5. How is Elfine's entrance onto the ballroom floor?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the parallel between Flora and Mr. Neck?

2. Do you think Aunt Ada Doom is "doomed" to misery?

3. How do you think the situation with Flora and the bull is symbolic of Flora with the lives of the Starkadders?

4. What is Flora's next tidying-up project and how does she start it?

5. Describe Aunt Ada Doom's appearance and behavior in the downstairs when Flora and the others walk in after the ball.

6. What does Flora ask Aunt Ada Doom about Flora's father and what is the answer?

7. What do you think is the symbolic meaning of Flora having the sukebind removed?

8. How do you think Flora is feeling by the end of the wedding?

9. What is the significance of the sukebind?

10. What fairy tale does Elfine's debut at the dance seem most like?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In response to her new living situation after the death of her parents, Flora decides to stay with members of her family and then eventually get married. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think Flora plans to eventually marry? What are her motives for this decision?

2. As Flora discusses her marriage plans for the future in chapter one, do you think she is planning to marry for love? Why or why not? What about at the end of the novel?

3. Why do you think marriage is one of the best (or one of the few) options for women in 1930s England?

Essay Topic 2

The setting for this novel is primarily around Sussex, England, in the 1930s. Discuss the following:

1. Research the setting of Sussex and write a brief description of the area, its climate, the primary means of livelihood, and its location within the island of Britain.

2. Do you think Sussex is a good choice for the setting of this novel? Why or why not?

4. How different do you think the Sussex of the 1930's is from the Sussex of today? Explain some differences and similarities.

5. Examine three scenes in the novel and explain how the setting influences what happens in the action of those scenes.

Essay Topic 3

Just as COLD COMFORT FARM is a parody of naturalistic literature, so Mr. "Mybug" (Meyerburg) is a parody of the smug literary writer. Discuss the following:

1. Discuss Mr. "Mybug's" character fully. Is he a likeable character? A sympathetic character? Does he change?

2. How do you think Meyerburg's discussion of sexuality in nature adds to the novel as a parody of naturalism in literature? Discuss specific examples.

3. What do you think of Mr. Meyerburg's thesis about Branwell Bronte? Do you think there is any validity to his assertions? Why or why not? (This may require a little research into the Bronte family).

4. Does Meyerburg's literary aspirations create more or less respect for him as a character? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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