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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. How does Mr. Richards say he feels about helping the Reverend?

2. What does the stranger say he used to be?

3. Which of the following activities did Mr. and Mrs. Richards used to do in the evening?

4. What is Jack Halliday's job?

5. Who does the stranger say is Goodson's legitimate heir?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Mrs. Richards angry at her husband?

2. What same conclusion do Mr. Cox and Mr. Richards come to?

3. How does the town decide to change after the Richardses pass away?

4. What does the stranger's second note say?

5. What does Jack Halliday notice about the town?

6. How do the townspeople react when Mr. Richards stands up to address them?

7. Why does Mr. Richards say he did not speak up in defense of Burgess?

8. How does Edward prove himself not as honest as what he would have his wife to believe?

9. What does Halliday notice about the town's citizens after they have received the letters?

10. Why does Richards not tell his wife about the good deed he did for Goodson?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Mark Twain uses a fictional town as his setting? How would he have to change the story if he used a real town? How does Twain use his setting to communicate character and theme?

Essay Topic 2

Look at the structure of the novel.

How does the author use character and dialogue to drive the narrative?

Discuss elements of the narrative structure; Exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the novel's chronological setting.

What were the main concerns during the 1900s? How does the author express these concerns?

How would the author change the novel if it was set in today's society?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 720 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample