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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 Francis Fairfax give his wife when he marries?

2. With what is Gordon having difficulty?

3. What does Eliza do when she goes into labor with Isobel?

4. How do the neighbors respond to the presence of the baby?

5. What happens in 1605 at the Fairfax manor?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Mr. Rice presented in a less-than-favorable narrative?

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

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

4. How does Vinny treat the children?

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

6. What gets Debbie's party off to a bad start?

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

8. What are the signs that Vinny is a poor caregiver for the children?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Plots are sometimes said to be either character-driven or action-driven. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think "Human Croquet" is more character-driven or action-driven? Or balanced between the two? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

"Human Croquet" takes place in and about London, England in the 1960s with some flashbacks to other eras.

1. How do you think the cultural milieu of a small English village informs the plot of "Human Croquet". Explain.

2. Discuss the lives of Isobel and her social group in light of the class structure in England at the time of "Human Croquet". Do you think all countries have some form of class structure? Why or why not.

3. How would the plot be impacted if the setting were in the United States at the same time period? Explain the differences.

4. How important do you think it is to understand the setting of a particularly book? Explain.

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)

This section contains 990 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample