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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 was Edwin Abbott's field of interest?

2. What is the second means of recognition in Flatland?

3. What does the editor say is his third reason for writing the preface?

4. Why is touching on occasion inaccurate?

5. Because of their education, what method of recognition is considered a serious offense?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain how sight recognition is used in upper classes, and why such a method cannot be used for the lower class.

2. In Chapter 1, what does A. Square compare sight in Flatland to in the three dimensional world, Spaceland, and what is the comparison?

3. Explain the use of color in the military of Flatland.

4. What is the author's primary defense against the idea that A. Square hates women?

5. What are some of the characteristics of women in Chapter 5?

6. What occurred when individuals began to question where light came from?

7. Why does Hoffman believe the development of the fourth dimension does not lessen the lessons of the book?

8. Summarize A. Square's explanation of Flatland.

9. What caused women to turn against the color bill?

10. What were the events surrounding the spread of desire to color Flatland, and how long did almost complete colorization take?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout Flatland, there are several examples of biases within the legal system, such as the killing of policemen witnessing the arrival of the Sphere while the higher class Squares are imprisoned. Discuss at least two examples of such biases. What do you think Abbott was trying to say about the relationship between class and justice? Do you believe his points are still valid today? Why or why not? Be sure to support your answer with both concepts from the book and your own experiences.

Essay Topic 2

In Flatland, there are several Laws of Nature discussed that serve to keep the Circles in power. Choose one of these laws, and explain it in depth. Does such a law of nature truly exist in the world? What do you believe Abbott was trying to say by introducing this law?

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 4, Abbott discusses the role of women in Flatland. He clearly uses the women in the novel to symbolize how women are treated in Victorian society. Discuss how Abbott portrays women in the novel, and compare it to both women in historic times, as well as in modern times. Has the treatment of women improved? If so, is the change universal? If not, what types of viewpoints have not changed? Do you feel such treatment is valid, or unjust? Why?

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