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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. Wharton compares the chill in the Frome's kitchen to ______________________________.

2. Mattie Silver has lived with the Fromes for _______________.

3. Ethan and Mattie do not go sledding that evening because ___________________________.

4. What gives Ethan a sense of mastery at the end of the chapter?

5. The Fromes take Mattie into their home because ____________________________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Mattie upset to learn that the Fromes expect her to leave them someday?

2. Describe the overall mood of Chapter 1.

3. If winter has kept him "frozen" in the same old patterns, what might the coming spring promise for Ethan Frome?

4. Why is Ethan afraid to be alone on the farm?

5. What was Ethan doing before he returned to Starkfield?

6. Describe Ethan and Zeena as they fall asleep at night.

7. Why did Ethan find it easier to put his arm around Mattie when they were outside together than when they are in his home?

8. Why doesn't Ethan protest Zeena's costly doctor visit?

9. What, according to Ethan, is responsible for the biggest change in Mattie since she arrived in Starkfield?

10. Why does Ethan find Zeena's silences unsettling?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Consider Wharton's use of symbols such as the horse, the cold, and the farmhouse to establish Frome's character throughout the novel. Then write an essay in which you identify at least three symbols that represent qualities of Ethan's character.

Essay Topic 2

Characters in Ethan Frome are faced with the manipulation and motivations of others throughout the text. Choose the character you believe is most effected by others' manipulations and motivations, and write an essay supporting your argument. Use specific examples from the text to help support your point.

Essay Topic 3

Hal Borland said, "No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn." Consdering this quote, write an essay in which you argue whether or not Ethan's symbolic "winter" has lasted forever, or whether spring has come to him in any way. Use specific examples to support your text.

(see the answer keys)

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