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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. Who invites Harriet to dinner and a show on April 1st?

2. Where does Harriet stay at her second visit to Oxford?

3. Who is standing in front of the fuse box by the West Staircase?

4. Miss Pyke discovers that what is missing right before she has to lecture?

5. Who hates Oxford and attends only because of her parents' wishes?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Harriet and Peter's relationship from the time of Harriet's return from Europe to her weekend at the Gaudy.

2. In Chapter 5, what do the Dean and Harriet conclude from the absence of spelling mistakes in the poison pen letters?

3. What happens while the lights are out at Shrewsbury in Chapter 9?

4. Why does Miss Martin, Dean at Shrewsbury College, write a letter to Harriet in Chapter 4?

5. How do Harriet's classmates and former professors receive her?

6. After the vandalism of the New Library, what do the Warden and Harriet decide about the investigation?

7. How does Harriet handle the vandalism of the New Library?

8. In Chapter 1, what are Harriet's emotions as she returns to Shrewsbury College?

9. What does Harriet find amusing about the invitation to Farringdon's party?

10. In Chapter 3, which two subjects had Harriet hoped not to think about at Oxford? Does she?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The issue of women's education versus domesticity occurs frequently in Gaudy Night. Even Harriet is at one time disposed to believe that the culprit is one of the female dons who has gone mad from learning and suppressed sexual desires. How is it ironic that Annie, a married uneducated women, is the mad culprit? Is Dorothy Sayers conveying a message through this? In your answer, consider the author's own life experience.

Essay Topic 2

At one point, Peter dines with the faculty members. Answer the following questions about this event.

1) What are two topics discussed during the evening, and what are the opinions given concerning those topics?

2) How does Peter use information he gathers from this evening to solve the mystery?

Essay Topic 3

At various times during the book, different members of the college are under suspicion. Choose two of these members. Explain their possible motives and reasons for them being under suspicion.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 850 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample