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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 did Mr. Richards help the Reverend?

2. What does Mr. Cox's boss say Mr. Cox should not ship until he tells him?

3. Why does Mr. Richards say he published the letter?

4. What does Mrs. Richards say her husband has never uttered?

5. Why does Mrs. Richards say she wants to be left alone?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Harkness want to buy the sack from the stranger?

3. What does the stranger say should happen if his plan is successful?

4. In what way does the author present Halliday as the only honest character in the story?

5. Why are similar scenes as the scenes at the Richardses being performed in 18 other houses?

6. Why does Mr. Richards say Burgess is not as mean-spirited as the town thinks?

7. How does Mr. Richards react when he reads the stranger's note?

8. How does Burgess try to settle the dispute between Wilson and Burgess?

9. Why do the Richardses become paranoid about church sermons?

10. What does Wilson accuse Billson of?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Aside from the main character examine the way the author uses the other characters in the book. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

Essay Topic 2

Compare Mr. Richards' character to the person he was at the beginning to the person he is at the end of the book.

1) What did Mr. Richards hope to achieve at the beginning of the book?

2) What events change Mr. Richards' ideas about life?

3) How has Mr. Richards' character changed by the end of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 746 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample