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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 transpires between Mrs. Tranter and Sarah?

2. What characteristics make Aunt Tranter very special?

3. How does Knowles use these changes to invite suspense?

4. How does Sarah appear as she stands at her windowsill at night looking out to sea?

5. What does Knowles say the novelist is?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the meaning of the Victorian expression, "a gooseberry?"

2. What does Charles say to Sarah about morality?

3. The morning Ernestina has a migraine, describe Charles' acting as a moth being drawn to a flame.

4. What is Charles' delusion as he rides up the drive to his uncles estate?

5. What are the indications of Charles as an eligible bachelor before his engagement to Ernestina?

6. What makes Ernestina laugh uncontrollably and Aunt Tranter fear she and Charles might be having a quarrel?

7. What is the attitude of the staff at Winsyatt castle about Charles and his uncle, Sir Robert?

8. How does Mrs. Poulteney attempt to stir up trouble for Mary during the visit in her drawing room?

9. In Lyme, by some strata of society, Sarah Woodruff is known as the French lieutenant's whore. Ernestina has another name for her. Why and what is it?

10. What is the explanation for Mrs. Poulteney's idea that the Ware Commons evokes Sodom and Gomorrah in her mind?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a review of the entire book expressing your opinions about the style, subject matter, creativity, and general interest in the story. Your review should give reasons someone should read the book or not.

Essay Topic 2

Using the characters Charles, Ernestina, and Sarah, write a short-short story set in the 21st century about a broken engagement. Use the title, "Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Scorned." Will your story be much different from the broken engagement in The French Lieutenant's Woman?

Essay Topic 3

Did you find Knowles' literary gimmicks a bit confusing? Write your opinion about Knowles' bringing in the 20th century occasionally in his story, his multiple scenarios for the same scene, and putting himself into the story as different characters.

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