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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. How does Lily feel when she learns that Gus Trenor told Simon Rosedale about their financial arrangement?

2. Who appears at the party at Bellomont at the end of the third day?

3. In book 1, chapter 12, why does Gus Trenor criticize Lily after her participation in the party entertainment?

4. When Lily arrives at the Trenor house, what does Gus Trenor first tell Lily about Mrs. Trenor?

5. How does Gerty Farish feel when she wakes up the morning after the party and realizes she is in love with Lawrence Selden?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Lily's goal in attending church with Percy Gryce?

2. What does Gerty Farish tell Lawrence Selden about Lily in book 2, chapter 8?

3. What will Lily's marriage to Simon Rosedale mean to Lily's self-perception?

4. Why does Lily turn down Carry Fischer's offer to care for the Welly Brys?

5. Explain Lily's reaction to Nettie Struther's living conditions.

6. Lily meets and has tea with Simon Rosedale while on her way home from the chemist. What does Lily tell him?

7. After Bertha has betrays Lily, how does Lawrence Selden feel toward Lily?

8. What example of racism does Lily demonstrate in book 1, chapter 2?

9. In book 2, chapter 10, what is Lily's outlook on life now that she no longer has her social status?

10. In book 1, chapter 13, how does Lily feel when Gus Trenor reveals his true intentions toward her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One theme developed by the author in The House of Mirth is how men and women related to each other during the time in history in which The House of Mirth is set. Compare and contrast the relationship between men and women during the time in which The House of Mirth is set to the relationship between men and women today.

Essay Topic 2

Answer all parts.

Edith Wharton ends The House of Mirth with a word left unsaid by both Lawrence Selden and Lily.

1) What do you think that word is? Why? Use examples from the story to explain your answer.

2) If Lawrence Selden and Lily had both been able to say the word to each other, would the ending of the story have been different? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Lily had relationships with many characters, both male and female, throughout The House of Mirth. Choose one of Lily's relationships with a male character and one relationship with a female character and explain how each of these relationships changes as the story progresses.

(see the answer keys)

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