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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 Lady Fairfax take with her when she leaves her husband?

2. What does Charlotte advice Gordon about the situation with Eliza?

3. How many babies has Maude lost?

4. Who beats Eliza to death?

5. What does Gordon think of Eliza?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. What is related about Sir Francis Fairfax and his new wife?

6. What does Isobel say about Charles?

7. What is the time and purpose of this chapter?

8. What happens to Lady Margaret and Master Shakespeare?

9. What does Gordon think of Eliza, and how do Charlotte and Vinny think of her?

10. What does Isobel say about Audrey?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in "Human Croquet". Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Atlkinson chooses the symbols she does? Do you think Atkinson consciously decides upon the symbols to represent various elements of "Human Croquet"? Why or why not.

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Atkinson chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Atkinson's use (or lack ) of literary devices (such as foreshadowing, cliffhangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Atkinson use too many or too little literary techniques? State to which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

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

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,030 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample