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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. Who beats Eliza to death?

2. Who dies with the person in question 163?

3. What is Audrey's basic world view?

4. Where is Gordon headed when this chapter opens?

5. When does "Future: Streets of Trees" take place?

Short Essay Questions

1. For whom do the servants prepare the home?

2. How does Gordon clarify his statement about the death of Eliza?

3. How does Gordon meet Eliza?

4. What smell does Isobel awaken to and what does she notice?

5. How does Maude Potter finally get a baby and what does she name the baby?

6. What does Isobel do with Malcolm in Hilary's bedroom?

7. How does Renee come to be a part of the Fairfax household?

8. What does Herbert do to Violet Angela, and what is Maude's response to Violet's telling her about Herbert?

9. What is happening on Christmas eve at the Fairfax household?

10. What happens to Lady Margaret and Master Shakespeare?

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

"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

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 983 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample