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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 Nicholas first think that Conchis may be concealing?

2. Where does this story take place?

3. What sort of people does Conchis hint that Nicholas is?

4. What wakes Alison and Nicholas up?

5. What does Conchis use to distract Lily?

Short Essay Questions

1. What conclusions did Nicholas draw about what was happening to him at Bourani?

2. As Nicholas and Conchis are walking back to the house and pass the Poseidon statue, what does Lily admit to Nicholas?

3. How did Conchis describe his time in Word War II and how it affected him?

4. What does Nicholas think Conchis is doing to him and how does that relate to Levierre and Mitford?

5. As Alison and Nicholas walk back toward town, what does Nicholas become more aware of and what does he then tell Alison as a result?

6. What kind of novel is this novel and how does the narrative structure play into this framework?

7. What does Nicholas see when he goes downstairs himself after Conchis heads upstairs?

8. What relationship did Conchis tell Nicholas about and in what way was he like Conchis?

9. What decisions did Conchis come to in regard to war and what did this make him determined to do?

10. Who does Nicholas contact via letter and what does he hope to happen because of the letter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an analysis of this book based on the consideration the revelation at the novel's conclusion that most all Nicholas experiences is engineered and manipulated by others. Include an examination from beginning of the novel through the end of the novel including specific examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

In what ways does the author use symbolism in this novel? Do you feel the use of symbolism is effective? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Write an analysis of this book based on the context of the writing style, language and development of characterization. Include the writing from beginning of the novel through the end of the novel including specific examples from the text.

(see the answer keys)

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