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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 Major Brutt feel about Anna's marriage to Thomas?

2. What was the agreement that Anna and Eddie reached after Eddie got his job?

3. Why is Anna upset about Portia's distress in part 1, chapter 2?

4. What possession of Portia's does Anna find in chapter 1?

5. How old is Portia?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Thomas feel about Portia?

2. Why do Anna and Thomas decide to send Matchett to retrieve Portia?

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

4. How did Eddie get a position working for Thomas?

5. Why is it a surprise when Major Brutt visits the Quaynes' home?

6. According to Matchett, what changed about Portia during her trip to Waikiki?

7. What does St. Quentin tell Portia about friendship?

8. What was Eddie and Anna's relationship like after Eddie started working for Thomas?

9. What was Mr. Quayne's life like after he married Irene?

10. Why doesn't Portia want to write in her diary how she feels about leaving Waikiki?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Portia had many men in her life, all of whom influenced her in some way. Choose one of these men, who you think had the biggest influence on Portia's character and the course of her life. Why was this man so important? What did he teach Portia? Did his influence make her life better or worse? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

It is St. Quentin's words about trust and honor that lead to the conversation which results, ultimately, in the end of Portia and Eddie's relationship. Why might St. Quentin's words have bothered her so much, when none of the other warnings she received had the same effect? Do you think that earlier in the novel, before all of the problems that Portia and Eddie had, that his words would have had the same effect on her? Why or why not? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

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