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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. Why doesn't Nicholas reveal his feelings to the female visitor?

2. What does Nicholas discover he has as he leaves Conchis' villa?

3. Which of the following characters is the protagonist of this novel?

4. What does Conchis ask Nicholas to believe in?

5. How does Mitford describe life on the island to Nicholas?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Nicholas decide about meeting Alison and what does he resolve to do about it?

2. What resolution does Nicholas come to about Conchis and privacy as well as Conchis and Alison?

3. What information does Conchis volunteer to Nicholas?

4. What realization does Nicholas come to in regard to Alison and then about himself?

5. What had changed in the room Nicholas was using when he stayed at Conchis' villa and how was it different?

6. What shocks Nicholas when he is looking around the music room?

7. What does Nicholas think about as he lies down and reflects on Conchis and how does Nicholas feel about this?

8. What happens to Nicholas' interest in Alison and what does she plan on doing because of this?

9. What does the main character of this novel learn and how long does he have to gather this information?

10. What does Nicholas observe after he releases Lily and watches her go?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the theme of NIcholas' transformation from the beginning of the novel through the end? Would you describe him at the end as being as selfish, overly indulgent and lazy as he was at the beginning?

Essay Topic 2

In what ways were climaxes in this novel matched in narrative with sexual ones within the novel? Do you believe this was the author's intention? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

What leads Nicholas to become aware that his connection to and feeling for Alison is the beginning of his new personal truth? Does this beginning blossom or fizzle out? How and why do you think this way?

(see the answer keys)

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