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. Fleur's job has changed from altering the manuscripts to what?

2. Even though Fleur insists that she started her novel well before beginning her job at the Autobiographical Association, the publisher ignores her and refuses to publish it because:

3. How does Sir Quentin explain Mrs. Wilks' ranting?

4. Leslie's novel was published around the same time as Warrender Chase, and received feeble reviews. How is Warrender Chase received?

5. Who does Fleur see for the last time as she leaves Sir Quentin's drawing room?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Fleur happen upon the title of the book she is now narrating?

2. How does Sir Quentin lure Fleur to his office after she retypes her manuscript and gives the copies to Solly?

3. What does Fleur first think might be the problem with her novel when the publisher requests to meet with her in person?

4. When Fleur runs into Mrs. Wilks in Chapter 7, what does Fleur observe about her?

5. Even though Fleur and Dottie have quite a tumultuous relationship, after Sir Quentin's death, she keeps Fleur well-informed about the other members of the Autobiographical Association. Describe what happens to any two members.

6. In Chapter 9, yet another character points out a correlation between Warrender Chase and reality. Who is it, and what is pointed out?

7. What was it that Fleur scolded herself when she determined who had likely stolen the manuscript from her room?

8. As Fleur goes to bed the night after the meeting with the publisher, about what can she not stop thinking ?

9. How does Fleur react to her own novel as she goes through it, typing up additional copies?

10. What is Fleur's reaction when Dottie calls her to tell her of Sir Quentin's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The drug Dexedrine is used by Sir Quentin to control his group of "followers."

What do the members gain, or perceive to gain, from following Sir Quentin? Could he have gained their confidence without the drugs? What did Sir Quentin's Association members have in common that made them susceptible to someone like him, similar to the blind faith cult members place in their leaders?

Essay Topic 2

Muriel Spark intentionally leaves character motivation out of Loitering with Intent. Her main character, Fleur Talbot, discusses not disclosing Warrender Chase's motivation for his evil behavior, merely the effects of his evil actions.

Discuss the concept of motivation and why you think Spark doesn't focus on the motivation of her characters' actions. Do you think this affects the reader's impressions of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Conflict between parent and child is a common theme in literature. This novel is no exception, although the parent/child conflict does not involve the main character. Analyze the sources of the parent/child conflict in Loitering with Intent and explain how it contributes to the development of the story.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,017 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample