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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. Gabriel tells Bathsheba in Chapter 29, "what is mirth to the neighbors is ruin to" what?

2. What month is it when Mr. Boldwood finally calls on Bathsheba in Chapter 19?

3. What color is the seal on the envelope with the Valentine from Bathsheba?

4. What words are imprinted on the seal of the Valentine that Bathsheba sends to Mr. Boldwood in Chapter 13?

5. What is the name of Gabriel's older dog in Chapter 5?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Mr. Boldwood derive the anonymous sender of the Valentine in Chapter 15?

2. To whom does Bathsheba write a letter in Chapter 30? What is revealed in the letter?

3. Whom does Gabriel encounter as he makes his way into Weatherbury in Chapter 7? What does this encounter foreshadow?

4. How would you describe the narrative style of the novel? From whose perspective is the story related?

5. Why does Bathsheba fire Gabriel Oak from his position on the farm in Chapter 20?

6. Who sends Gabriel a letter in Chapter 15? What is revealed in the letter?

7. Why does Bathsheba leave Norcombe in Chapter 5? Where does she go?

8. What are Gabriel Oak’s first impressions of Bathsheba Everdene? Where does he first see Bathsheba?

9. Why does Bathsheba send a Valentine’s Day card to Mr. Boldwood in Chapter 13? What does the card say?

10. What leads Mr. Boldwood to follow Gabriel Oak in Chapter 14?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author's use of literary and mythological allusion in the novel. What Greek myths and characters are alluded to? Why? What authors and literary works does the author reference? How do these allusions relate to the themes in Far from the Madding Crowd?

Essay Topic 2

Define the setting of "Wessex" and discuss the author's depictions of this setting in Far from the Madding Crowd. Upon what real locales are the towns and villages in the novel based? In what region of England is the story set? What is the time period of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the social class system of Victorian England and the systems of class seen in Far from the Madding Crowd. How does social class differ in rural England from the cities? How do the characters in the story manage to change their places within this system?

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