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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 do Richard and Elfine announce at the end of the evening?

2. Who does Flora call after the reception is over?

3. Who does Reuben settle upon for marriage?

4. Who carries Flora and Elfine to the waiting car?

5. About what does Reuben worry?

Short Essay Questions

1. What might be the symbolizes of the lights being on when Seth, Elfine and Flora return to Cold Comfort Farm from the ball?

2. What actually produces an emotional response from Flora (as opposed to her usual practical nature) and how does Flora deal with the situation?

3. How are Seth's life and Elfine's life similar?

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

5. What does Dr. Mudel suggest to "fix" Judith Starkadder and what do you think is Judith's fixation that is causing problems?

6. What does Aunt Ada Doom want on the morning of Elfine's wedding and what might her request symbolize?

7. What is the significance of the sukebind?

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

9. Whose perspective does chapter 14 begin with and what may it portend?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Flora Poste is introduced in Chapter 1 and appears in every subsequent chapter. She is the main character and protagonist of the novel. Discuss the following:

1. What is the definition of "protagonist" as it pertains to literary criticism?

2. Do you agree that Flora Poste is the protagonist of this novel? Why or why not? Give examples from the text.

3. Do you think Flora is a sympathetic character? At the beginning of the book? By the end of the book? Give examples.

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 11, we first see the idea of the Pygmalion effect (or the Rosenthal effect). Discuss the following?

1. Who is Pygmalion in Greek Legend?

2. What is the Pygmalion effect (or sometimes called the Rosenthal effect)? What does this psychological phenomenon have to do with the Pygmalion of Greek myth?

3. Discuss Seth and Elfine and how the Pygmalion effect is relevant to their lives.

Essay Topic 3

The characters are more important in this novel than the actual storyline. Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Compare and contrast Flora Poste from who she seems to be at the beginning of the novel versus who she is at the end of the novel.

2. Compare and contrast Seth and Reuben.

3. Compare and contrast Elfine and Miriam.

(see the answer keys)

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