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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 Mr. Baxter retire?

2. What does Charles find that he incorporates into his theories about his mother?

3. What does Charlotte tell the children about their father?

4. What lecture is boring Isobel in class?

5. Where does Gordon meet Eliza?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What do the neighbors think of the new baby in the Fairfax household?

4. How does Vinny treat the children?

5. Describe how Charles and Isobel are born.

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

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

8. How do Charlotte and Vinny treat Eliza and what is her response?

9. Where is Audrey's mother and how has her mother impacted Audrey and Charles' life?

10. Who is Audrey, and how does her father treat her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Many books are often made into a movie based upon the book. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think you would enjoy watching a film based upon "Human Croquet"? Why or why not?

2. Do you think the subject matter would be more difficult or easier to portray in film versus in the book? Explain your reasoning.

3. Would you allow your high school-aged son or daughter (imagining you have one) to view the film? Explain your answer.

4. How do you think the movie would differ from the book? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as "Human Croquet" help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading "Human Croquet"? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in the book to discuss and compare Isobel's response to that of two other characters, and to how you think you would respond.

(see the answer keys)

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