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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 do Cressida's sisters and son justify their greed?

2. What do Cressida and Poppas have for each other?

3. What is the narrator's relationship to the famous person who is boarding the cruise ship?

4. From where is Cressida's family originally?

5. With which opera company does Cressida have employment for a while?

Short Essay Questions

1. Poppas spends his entire adult life creating one star. What do you think he gains from this dedication?

2. Do you believe that Cressida's family would have been happy just to have Cressida's love and good wishes rather than her money?

3. Give some examples that show how generous Cressida is with her time and money to those around her. Is generosity always a good thing?

4. Why do you think the sisters seem to tolerate Poppas?

5. Why do you think Cressida would have chosen an accompanist and teacher over her marriage?

6. Describe the relationship between Poppas and Cressida's sisters.

7. What in the events of Cressida getting to know Bouchalka might be a hint to Cressida that Bouchalka might ultimately prove an unreliable spouse?

8. Describe Carrie's trip to the docks to hear the reading of the names of the survivors from the Titanic.

9. At what do Cressida's sisters marvel about Cressida and how is that not completely true?

10. What are signs that Bouchalka may not be quite as dedicated a musician as Cressida believes.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

As Carrie is strolling about the ship, she comes upon Cressida and her son and sister. Cressida and Carrie immediately stroll together to talk. Answer the following questions in a well-developed essay using detailed examples from the book and from your own life experience.

1. Who is Carrie in relationship to Cressida?

2. Would you characterize Carrie as a loyal and sincere friend? Give examples to support your stance.

3. Cary is the narrator of the story; what is the perspective of her narration? Is the perspective effective? How would the story change if written the perspective changes? What if Julia or Horace were the narrator?

Essay Topic 2

An entire section of this story is devoted to an in-depth accounting of Cressida's relationship with Bouchalka, the Bohemian. Answer the following questions in a well-developed essay using detailed examples from the book and from your own life experience:

1. Briefly describe how Cressida meets Bouchalka and the development of their romance.

2. Does Bouchalka seem totally devoted to composing when he is first described? Why or why not?

3. Why do you think Bouchalka lost his motivation to compose once he was no longer "hungry"?

4. Do you think Bouchalka would have continued his career as an excellent composer if he had not become a "kept" man?

Essay Topic 3

While Carrie and Cressida are chatting, Cressida says, "'It may mean that I still belong to the future more than to

the past, do you think?'" Knowing that Cressida's future turns out to be a watery grave on the bottom of the ocean, this passage could be considered an example of irony. Answer the following questions in a well-developed essay using detailed examples from the book and from your own life experience:

1. Define the word irony and give examples of it from your own life.

2. How does the use of irony enhance this story and literature in general?

3. There is a literary term called "dramatic irony." Define this term and see if you can find any instances of it in this story. Can you name other books or movies where you have encountered a dramatic ironic situation?

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