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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. Who does Alice offend with her toast?

2. Why does Alice originally come to Manchester?

3. What is Margaret able to give Mary because of her singing success?

4. What do John and Mary begin to do to raise money?

5. What does John Barton do for a living?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Jem Wilson visits the Bartons at the beginning of Chapter 8, how does Mary treat him?

2. How does John Barton help the Davenport family?

3. How does Mary react to Jem Wilson's marriage proposal?

4. What does Jem do to anger young Mary Barton?

5. What does Mrs. Barton say Alice should bring with her to tea?

6. Why does Esther tell Jem she is concerned for Mary?

7. What job does Mary find and how is she compensated for her work?

8. What resolution do Mr. Barton and his daughter make after Mrs. Barton's death?

9. How does Alice come to live in Manchester?

10. Why is John Barton's health suffering in Chapter 12?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Chartism was a workers' movement from the 1830's to 1850. Discuss chartism and its role in the novel.

Essay Topic 2

Death is a recurring motif in the novel "Mary Barton". Discuss the deaths in the novel. What purpose do they serve? Why would Gaskell feature so many deaths in the narrative?

Essay Topic 3

Rebellion is a recurring motif of the novel "Mary Barton". Discuss rebellion in the novel and what causes the characters to rebel.

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