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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 many men live at the lodgings ?

2. For how long is the narrator staying at the spike?

3. What does a tramp tell the narrator about in this chapter?

4. What does Bozo do to earn money?

5. How much money does Paddy want to bury?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the character of Paddy.

2. What is the narrator's theory about British swear words?

3. Why does Paddy want to bury his five pence?

4. What does the narrator believe he has learned from his experiences?

5. Why do you think the author includes this apparently irrelevant chapter in the book?

6. What reason does the narrator give for the existence of tramps?

7. Describe the narrator's experience at the church in chapter 26.

8. What stories does the narrator hear at the Cromley spike?

9. How do the people in the lodging house earn their money?

10. Describe the Salvation Army shelter.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

Essay Topic 2

Examine the novel's dialogue. How does Orwell's dialogue contribute to the following areas

1) Character

2) Setting

3) Plot

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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