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. What is the name of the quarter in which the narrator lives?

2. How many candles are lit at night?

3. At what time in the afternoon does someone get fired?

4. In what city does the narrator take a job?

5. What does the narrator say he thought the French knew when they saw it?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do Boris and the narrator quit their jobs in chapter 19?

2. Why is the narrator berated for wearing a mustache in chapter 13?

3. Describe Boris and the narrator's interview at the Auberge.

4. Why does Boris fall into despair in chapter 6?

5. How does the narrator get money in chapter 4?

6. Why do the staff at the Auberge hate each other?

7. Why does the narrator believe that people are kept in poverty?

8. Describe the story Valenti tells in chapter 15.

9. Describe the narrator's Saturday nights.

10. What does the narrator say are his best and worst days working at the hotel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine Orwell's writing style. How would you describe Orwell's prose style? What kind of vocabulary does he use? Does he use any specific writing techniques? What meaning does Orwell's style give to the story?

Essay Topic 2

Down and Out in Paris and London is a semi-autobiographical novel, adhering to the rule, writers should always write about what they know. Do you think it is obvious that Orwell knows his subject? What difference do you think it makes to the story? Are there any moments where you think Orwell does not portray a character or setting so well? What affect does it have on the story?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Orwell's life. In what way do you think his life and personality is reflected in the book?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 660 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample