View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Madelyne do on her wedding night before she sees Duncan?

2. Why does Madelyne say during the marriage ceremony that she willingly takes the groom as her husband?

3. Who is Henry?

4. During Madelyne's testimony before the king, what surprises the crowd?

5. Duncan believes that Madelyne appears clumsy for what reason?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Duncan not like the changes that Madelyne makes to the hall?

2. What changes does Madelyne make to the hall without permission from Duncan after she and Duncan are wed?

3. Edmond makes a complete change in his attitude toward Madeline, welcoming her to the Wexton family. Why?

4. After dinner and Madelyne's singing, what alliances do Duncan and Edmond discuss with regard to Louddon?

5. Why does Duncan refuse to call witnesses to testify in his defense before the king?

6. Madelyne prepares for Gerald's visit by performing what preparations to her appearance and dress?

7. What suggestion does Gilard make that he thinks solves Madelyne's problem and why is it a self-serving solution?

8. Why does Madelyne leave her chamber when she knows that Duncan is displeased if she leaves?

9. When Louddon testifies in front of the king, what does he say and do?

10. In Chapter 22, Duncan gives Madelyn a recitation of many things that Madelyne does since he proves she is courageous. What are three of the four reasons that Duncan provides to Madelyne to prove to her that she is courageous?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the function of Gerald in the novel and how does the author use him to contribute to the story as a whole? How does he relate to the Wexton men? How does he relate to Madelyne and Adela? Does the addition of this character advance the plot, reveal character in one or more of the main characters, provide the opportunity for allusion to Greek myths, something else? Pick three ways that the author uses the character of Gerald to advance some aspect of the story and provide examples from the novel to support your argument.

Essay Topic 2

Madelyne is filled with insults for her from Adela at dinner until she infuriates Madelyne, who takes control to end the situation. She forces Adela to clean up her act and in the process, Adela confides in Madelyne the truth of how she is raped. Why does Madelyne tell Adela that she must talk about the rape? Does Adela's confession help Madelyne heal from Louddon's abuse as well, or is she unaffected by Adela's story and her similar abusive experiences with Louddon? Compare and contrast the treatment of both Adela and Madelyne at the hands of Louddon. Provide examples from the book to support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

At the end of the novel Madelyne is pregnant, although she doesn't immediately realize it and Duncan finally breaks the news to her. Pregnancy may be symbolic for a fulfillment of the future, new experiences, self awareness, personal growth and the cycle of life. How does the novel describe Madelyne's pregnancy? Why does everyone know that Madelyne is pregnant except for Madelyne? Is there more than one reason for this, an obvious reason and a less obvious one? What does this mean about Madelyne's self-awareness? Is Madelyne a changed woman from the beginning of the novel? Is there more room for growth? Is the pregnancy seen as a reward for Madelyne and Duncan, or something else? Pick three ways in which the pregnancy is symbolic of some aspect of the change in Madelyne, or the change in the relationship between Madelyne and Duncan. Use examples from the novel to support your argument.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,433 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample