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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 is Maggie not punished for her behavior after running away and coming home again?

2. What causes Mr. Tulliver to wake up?

3. Why do Tom and Philip become closer again for a little while while Tom is recovering from his injury?

4. What character trait explains why Tom and Maggie won't take Bob's money?

5. Why does Philip's deformity make Maggie feel more tender toward him?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Maggie's childhood relationship with Tom.

2. Is Bob trying to court Maggie when he brings her the gift of books?

3. How do Mrs. Tulliver's sisters react to the actions of the Tulliver children?

4. Why are the townspeople at St. Ogg's not surprised when the river starts to flood?

5. Why does Tom try to convince Philip to come and see the sword demonstration?

6. Why is Mr. Tulliver so shocked not to be able to come up with a plan to come up with the money for his mortgage?

7. How does Maggie react when she realizes that she and Steven go too far in the boat?

8. How is Mrs. Tulliver saved from the flood?

9. Describe Maggie's character, based on her behavior during her childhood.

10. How does Mrs. Moss cause Mr. Tulliver to soften and become milder in his feelings toward her family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The reader first glimpses the narrator in Chapter One, when the narrator uses the word "I" and talks about having dozed off dreaming about the mill and about the afternoon when the Tullivers have their discussion (the discussion that is then related in Chapter Two). Who do you think the narrator is? Why does the narrator choose to tell this story?

Essay Topic 2

Do you think that Maggie is better off ending up with Philip, with Stephen, or with neither? Defend your perspective. Be sure to include evidence from The Mill on the Floss to support your case.

Essay Topic 3

Siblings often do not get along. In your opinion, is the relationship between Maggie and Tom typical of siblings, or do they have a stormier relationship than most? Analyze Maggie and Tom's relationship, arguing that it is or is not typical.

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