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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. How does Tristram escape death?

2. What concern does Tristram voice in Chapter 1 of Volume 7?

3. What is in Dover?

4. How do the abbess and the novice make their mules move?

5. Why are the lead weights removed from the window that falls on Tristram?

Short Essay Questions

1. What could Bobby's death symbolize to Tristram?

2. Describe the farcical nature of the story of the abbess and the novice.

3. What might Tristram mean when he describes romance as, "It is with love as with cuck-oldom"?

4. Why do Toby and Trim temporarily move in with Widow Wadham?

5. Why does Tristram decide to travel abroad in Volume 7?

6. What dispute arises over Tristram's injury in Volume 6?

7. How does Toby react to the end of the war?

8. How does Toby plan to approach Widow Wadham about his affections?

9. How does Walter Shandy react to Tristram's injury in Volume 5?

10. How does communication among the characters disintegrate in Volume 8?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What lessons does Sterne impart about communication? How do the characters express ideas to each other? What element of communication is missing from their dialogue and how does this affect character development?

Essay Topic 2

Of what importance is Tristram's name in the novel? What significance does Walter Shandy place on names and why does Tristram's name disturb him? Why does Diduis refuse to change Tristram's name?

Essay Topic 3

What views about social class are expressed in the novel? How do the Shandys treat their servants? Why does Dr. Slop make such a point to verbally abuse Obidiah and complain about the midwife? What perception of social class does Tristram express?

(see the answer keys)

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