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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 is Mr. Baxter's position?

2. Why is Malcolm's mother disappointed?

3. Where does Charlotte serve the children lunch?

4. What does Francis Fairfax give his wife when he marries?

5. What occurs in Fairfax Manor in 1582?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Vinny treat the children?

2. What does Isobel find at the back door when she and Isobel are home alone?

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

4. What happens when Charles is eight years old?

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

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

7. Who is Francis Fairfax, and what does the narrator write about him?

8. Give a very brief synopsis of the Fairfax family's status over time.

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

10. Where does Malcolm take Isobel, and what happens there?

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

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Isobel from the beginning of the book to who she is at the end of the book. How are they similar? How are they different? Which "character" do you like more? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Isobel and Charles. How do they seem different? How are they alike? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in "Human Croquet" help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss the character of Isobel. What are her strengths? Weaknesses? How does she evolve over the course of the story? Is she likable at the beginning of the story? At the end of the book? Do you think she is a protagonist or antagonist? Why

2. Thoroughly discuss the character Charles. What are his strengths? Weaknesses? How does he evolve over the course of the story? (or does he?) Is he likable at the beginning of the story? At the end of the book? Is he trustworthy? Wise? Would you want him as a friend? As an enemy?

3. Thoroughly discuss two other characters of your choosing. What are their strengths? Weaknesses? How do they evolve over the course of the story? (or do they?) Are they likable at the beginning of the story? At the end of the book? Are they trustworthy? Wise? Would you want them as friends? Are they likely to be enemies?

(see the answer keys)

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