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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 does Eliza do when she goes into labor with Isobel?

2. In what year does Francis Fairfax arrive in Lythe?

3. What is Francis Fairfax's main occupation?

4. What is one thing Mr. Rice leaves behind when he vacates the house?

5. How does Eunice upset Isobel?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Isobel "see" in the time wrap she experiences in this chapter?

2. Describe the interaction between Gordon and his two young children after Gordon returns from the woods.

3. What are the circumstances surrounding Charlotte's death?

4. What business does Charlotte run and what are her long term intentions?

5. What does Francis Fairfax give his new wife and what happens to the present?

6. What does Isobel, the narrator at the beginning of the novel, discuss in the first part of the novel?

7. What leads to Isobel's house being infested with fleas?

8. Describe how Charles and Isobel are born.

9. How does Debbie explain the raw meat on the table one morning?

10. What does Isobel think she sees Mr. Rice doing and what is the outcome?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in "Human Croquet".

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of "Human Croquet". How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of "Human Croquet". How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation whereby Hilary and Isobel eventually become good friends. Discuss two other incidences of irony in "Human Croquet".

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use of and meaning of five symbols found in "Human Croquet".

3. Discuss the use of foreshadowing in literature. What is the purpose of foreshadowing? Cite 3 examples of foreshadowing and how it is used to indicate events to come in "Human Croquet".

Essay Topic 3

Often titles reveal much about one or more aspects of a novel. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think is the purpose of a title? How closely related to a major theme(s) of a book do you think a title should be? Or should it be?

2. The phrase "Human Croquet" appears several times in the book. Discuss that theme and how it is related to the title.

3. If you were the writer of "Human Croquet" and your editor says the title must be changed, what would you choose? Why?

4. How do you feel when you have finished reading a book, and you still do not understand the meaning of the title in relation to the book?

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