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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 Portia respond to Matchett's concerns about Eddie?

2. What relationship exists between Mrs. Heccomb and Daphne?

3. What does Lilian ask Portia at lunch in part 1, chapter 4?

4. What did Portia's mother think about Anna?

5. Who is to be Portia's date for Daphne's dance party?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Mr. Bursely make Portia so uncomfortable at the party?

2. What is Anna's relationship with Major Brutt?

3. What does Dickie tell Portia before she leaves Waikiki?

4. Why is Portia staying with Anna and Thomas?

5. What does Thomas wonder when Major Brutt visits?

6. How does Thomas feel about Portia?

7. How does Thomas react to Portia visiting him in his study?

8. Why is Anna avoiding going home?

9. Why is Mrs. Heccomb looking forward to Eddie's visit?

10. What does Portia think about as she sits in Thomas's study with him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

This novel is a tale of a girl's passage into womanhood. What were the major turning points for Portia? At which points did she make great progress toward her coming of age? Who, or what, influenced this progression? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Portia's diary is a very important plot point. How did it tie the major characters together? What effect did it have on Portia's development into a woman? What problems did it cause with the people around Portia? Why do you think Bowen chose to use Portia's diary as one of the most important objects in the novel? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

A novel has five stages: conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Divide this novel into its component stages. What event ended each stage? Why? How did you determine the division of the novel? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

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