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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. What event does Bendrix first look for in Sarah's diary?

2. How does Sarah expect Bendrix to react when she arrives late to meet him one afternoon?

3. Who does Bendrix pretend to be looking for when he arrives at the Smythes' apartment?

4. Where does Parkis say Sarah went after having lunch with Bendrix?

5. What is Bendrix surprised to learn from reading Sarah's diary?

Short Essay Questions

1. What promise does Sarah make to God if He will return Bendrix to life?

2. What does Sarah say Henry's "sleep smile" seems to indicate?

3. Why doesn't Sarah want to give up drinking as she gave up Bendrix?

4. According to Bendrix, why did Sarah end their affair?

5. What does Richard Smythe take from Sarah's death bed? How does Bendrix react?

6. Why does Bendrix fear Henry will discover his affair with Sarah when the two make love in her living room?

7. How does Bendrix change his work routine in preparation for running away with Sarah?

8. How does Father Crompton act towards Bendrix?

9. Compare and contrast Henry's study and Sarah's living room

10. What does Bendrix tell Father Crompton he hates?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Marriage plays an interesting role in this novel. Write an essay:

1) describing the ways marriage is portrayed in the novel

2) examining the significance of marriage in the plot and character development

3) arguing what you believe the author is trying to say about marriage through the novel.

Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Sarah's journal offers unique insight into a character (Sarah) other than the narrator (Bendrix). Discuss how the author's decision to include another narrator influences the story. How is the story different because of Sarah's journal? What is the significance of the fact that Sarah did not intend for Bendrix to read her journal? How would the novel be different if Sarah told the entire story? Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Flashbacks are important to the development of the novel. Select two major flashback scenes and discuss:

1) what happens in the flashback

2) how the story is influenced by the presence of this flashback

3) the significance of the flashback in the story

4) why Bendrix chooses to remember this scene.

Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

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