View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. The new companion, the "big man," thinks an angel told him

2. Grimes escapes prison under a cloud of

3. Margot Metroland, married to the former Maltravers,

4. Paul learns of Prendergast's fate through

5. Why do the officials in France laugh at Paul's comment about the absurdity of the League of Nations?

Short Essay Questions

1. Grimes has supposedly met with a terrible death in the bogs. Does Paul mourn his passing?

2. What is the distinguishing characteristic of Paul Pennyfeather that makes him go to Marseilles on business he is not really sure about--to call on women at an address in the depths of the slums?

3. Why is it not surprising that Paul and Margot run into Philbrick at the upscale restaurant where they are having lunch?

4. How is Paul given the news of Prendergast's death?

5. What is about Margot that is so attractive to Peter? What personal motivation of Margot's does she make very clear to the men around her?

6. Paul seems to have a temporary coming-out when he travels to London and meets with Potts. How is he different?

7. Margot Beste-Chetwynde had been at King's Thursday only once before she purchased the property many years later. Discuss that visit.

8. What is Peter Beste-Chetwynde doing at Scone College? How does Paul feel about him?

9. How does the judge see Paul's involvement in the crime for which he is convicted?

10. Compare the two names held by Maltravers -- Maltravers and, now, Metroland. What is Waugh trying to say?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many times throughout this story "the war" is mentioned. Write a detailed essay about the effects of world war one on British society. This story was written shortly after the end of the war when the country is trying to recover from its effects. Try to focus on a particular town or township that was hit particularly hard by the war and describe its effects, before and after.

Essay Topic 2

An astonishing element of this story is that Waugh wants us to notice that no one, including parents and teachers, is terribly concerned over the accidental shooting of little Lord Tangent, not to mention his ensuing death. Look into the American standards for schools and write an essay on the degree to which we protect our children from careless teachers and unsafe conditions. Do we, as a country, have laws about such things? Are the laws strictly local? Are there some lawsuits you can reference about this kind of accident on school grounds? Are the laws different for private vs. public schools?

Essay Topic 3

Research and write about the history of the practice of "white slavery" as it is described in this story. Does it still go on? When was it at its peak? Was it always prostitution, or were there other reasons to capture people and enslave them? Is this something that Americans have also participated in?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,143 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample