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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What big celebration is coming up in Casterbridge?
(a) Farfrae and Elizabeth are getting married.
(b) Farfrae is knighted.
(c) Christmas.
(d) Casterbridge receives royal commendations.

2. What is the motive behind the "skimmity ride"?
(a) The furmity woman wants to revenge the town.
(b) The lower class hates Farfrae.
(c) Pure fun against the upper class.
(d) Cuxsom is in love with Henchard.

3. What does Elizabeth do with Henchard's gift?
(a) Throw it in the garbage.
(b) Bury it.
(c) Store it in the closet.
(d) Burn it.

4. What are Henchard's intentions when retrieving some letters from Farfrae?
(a) To read them to Lucetta, hoping to evoke some emotions from her.
(b) To burn them immediately.
(c) To hide the letters in case he needs to blackmail Lucetta in the future.
(d) To tell Farfrae about his affair with Lucetta.

5. What makes Farfrae fall out of favor with the lower class?
(a) Farfrae bullies his journeymen at work.
(b) He is changed from his singing Scotchman days to an upper class man.
(c) No one respects his decision to marry Lucetta.
(d) The lower class has a strong bond with Henchard.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Farfrae indirectly offer Henchard?

2. What becomes of Weydon-Priors?

3. What delays Jopp from running Henchard's errand?

4. What does Jopp ask of Lucetta?

5. What image does Henchard see at Ten Hatches Hole?

Short Essay Questions

1. In chapter 32, what is becoming apparent of Elizabeth Jane? How is she changing? Is she the same person as when she lives with Henchard years before?

2. Any drama in Elizabeth's life is not from her own doing. She lives to see how others bear good and bad circumstances. As Elizabeth lives her life, what overall lesson does she learn?

3. Although Farfrae buys Henchard's house and furniture in good faith, and offers him a room and job to help him. Describe what it feels like for Michael.

4. In chapter 42, Michael disagrees about some of Elizabeth's decisions. How does Michael show that he is actively changing for the better?

5. Of all the places that Lucetta chooses to meet Michael, why at the Ring? Hardy sets it there in the novel, but Lucetta is unaware that Susan and Michael meet there before. What is the importance of the Ring in this chapter?

6. After Lucetta's death, Donald and Elizabeth are seen in courtship. Compare and contrast this courtship to their first one before Lucetta came to Casterbridge.

7. After Henchard's bankruptcy, Henchard becomes an associate of the lower class. He now works beside them, dresses in shabby clothing, and lives in the same vicinity. But how is Henchard different from the lower class? What large difference do he and Jopp have despite their similar circumstances?

8. When Henchard goes bankrupt and feels shame, he turns to Jopp. Despite his harsh behavior towards Jopp, why does Henchard turn to him?

9. Describe the events that inhibit the law enforcers to promptly find the perpetrators of the skimmity ride.

10. Whittle is not a main character, and yet plays a significant role at the end of Michael's life. Why does Hardy choose Whittle to care for Henchard? What does Whittle represent?

(see the answer keys)

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