View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does Gordon meet Eliza?

2. Where does Lady Fairfax spent a great deal of time?

3. What does Isobel do on Christmas eve?

4. Where are Charlotte and Vinny?

5. What does Gordon do one day when Eliza is sleeping?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Isobel experience at Hilary's party?

2. How does Gordon meet Eliza?

3. What does Isobel wonder about reality and Mr. Baxter?

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

5. How does Violet Angela end up leaving Herbert and Maude?

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

7. How is it revealed that the lock of hair Charles supposedly has belongs to Eliza?

8. Who is Lady Margaret and what happens to her in regards to Sir Francis?

9. What impressions does Isobel have about where she is at the end of this chapter?

10. Who is having breakfast when Isobel goes downstairs and how is everyone at the breakfast table?

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

Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast Isobel's and Charles' reaction to the disappearance of their mother. How do you think you would have reacted in a similar situation? Explain.

2. Discuss how you would have handled things were you in Isobel at Hilary's party. Do you think she handles the party better or worse than (or about the same) as you? Would you have confided in your someone about the party? Why or why not?

3. Do you think Isobel and Charles should have been taken to a therapist? Why? What do you think the therapists would have said to each of them?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,049 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample