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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 long after her marriage does the narrator of “The Wife’s Story” say she and her husband moved?

2. What is Jacky’s relationship to the narrator’s husband in “The Wife’s Story”?

3. The narrator of “The Wife’s Story” recalls a time in Paris when she had gone to whose studio outside of the city to see her “Horse-Fair”?

4. The narrator states in “Anne” that Mrs. Palmer once went all the way to Philadelphia to hear an Italian stroller named what?

5. What does the narrator say Anne had in her hands when she fell asleep in the beginning of “Anne”?

Short Essay Questions

1. What “big decision” does Mrs. Palmer make in “Anne”? Why?

2. What does Hester do after leaving her family in “The Wife’s Story”?

3. What was the ultimate changing point in the marriage between Hester and Dr. Manning in “The Wife’s Story”?

4. Where does Mrs. Palmer travel in “Anne”? How does she fund her travels?

5. What does the narrator note about the character of Mrs. Palmer in the ending of “Anne”?

6. What is the character of Anne doing in the opening of the last story, “Anne”?

7. Who does Mrs. Palmer first encounter on the train in “Anne”? What is Mrs. Palmer’s reaction?

8. What consumes Mrs. Palmer’s thoughts when her character is introduced in “Anne”?

9. What conflict arises in “The Wife’s Story” relating to Hester’s musical ambitions?

10. What happens when Mrs. Palmer encounters George Forbes on the train in “Anne”?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the similarities and differences between the motivations of Mrs. Palmer in “Anne” and those of Hester in “The Wife’s Story” and Hugh in “Life in the Iron Mills.” How does creativity and “otherness” apply to each of these characters? How does oppression?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the characters of Dr. Manning and Jacky in “The Wife’s Story.” What about Jacky does Hester dislike? Why? How much older than Hester is Dr. Manning? How many children does Dr. Manning have from his first marriage?

Essay Topic 3

Plot Structure

a. Discuss the plot structure of stories in the collection. In what ways is the narrative related and what effect does this have on the reader?

b. How do the stories in the collection compare with other works written during this time period? Are there specific stylistic elements that can be seen in Davis’s writing?

(see the answer keys)

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