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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. At the end of Chapter 8, where does Harriet go for a soothing influence?

2. While investigating the light in the New Library, Harriet runs into a student doing what?

3. Who was the last person to handle Miss Lydgate's manuscript?

4. When telling her about the New Library vandalism, what does Harriet smell in Miss Burrow the librarian's room?

5. What do the police find when they raid Juke's home in Chapter 9?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is significant about April 1st?

2. Does Harriet learn anything about the poltergeist from the night when the fuses were removed?

3. How does Harriet find the disaster in the New Library the night before its opening?

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

5. How does Saint-George embarrass himself in front of Harriet?

6. Why does the hanging figure incident clear Miss Cattermole's name?

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

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

9. Why is Sunday the best part of a Gaudy?

10. Why does Harriet tell Saint-George about the poltergeist in Chapter 10?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Detective fiction usually involves a central character who solves the mystery. In the case of Gaudy Night, however, it is not Harriet but Peter who solves the mystery. Which one do you think is the main character of the book?

Essay Topic 2

The Senior Common Room is the setting for many significant meetings and conversations. Choose two of these occasions and explain their significance to the book.

Essay Topic 3

An element of detective fiction is that the author leaves obscure clues as to who is responsible. Find four of these clues from Gaudy Night and explain how they point to Annie as the culprit.

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