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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 clues suggest the Fromes are very poor?

2. In his study, Ethan toys with the idea of ________________________________________.

3. What emotion does Ethan feel over his argument with Zeena?

4. Ethan believes that Zeena's one pleasure is __________________________________.

5. Zeena has only made arrangements for _____________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ethan claim about the state of his marriage in the letter to Zeena, and what does this show about Ethan's character?

2. What prevents Jotham from staying for dinner as he usually does, and why does this bother Ethan?

3. Describe Mattie as the narrator sees her.

4. Why isn't Ethan prepared for Zeena's arrival when he gets home?

5. How does Mrs. Hale suggest the Fromes in the graveyard are different from the Fromes up at the farm?

6. Why is Ethan ashamed of his and Zeena's behavior in their room?

7. What clues does Ethan have that Zeena's return will not be a pleasant one?

8. Why is Ethan willing to overlook his pride to renew his request for money from Andrew Hale?

9. What is significant about Zeena's behavior that day?

10. In what way would Ethan have "lived" if Mattie had died, according to Mrs. Hale?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Whose fault is the eventual state of the Fromes? Write an essay in which you consider the final state of the Fromes, financially, socially, and emotionally speaking, and determine one character who is ultimately at fault for their decline. Use specific examples from the text to support your argument.

Essay Topic 2

In most of the chapters in the novel, Ethan's thoughts and actions are revealed through third person characterization. Considering the third person limited point of view, write an essay identifying Ethan Frome as either a sympathetic or an unsympathetic character, and discuss the influence of the narrator on Ethan's characterization.

Essay Topic 3

How does the importance of duty and appearance affect the events and theme of Ethan Frome? Write an essay in which you choose three examples from the text that suggest an event or theme is affected by duty and appearance.

(see the answer keys)

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