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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Stephen start having dinner at Lucy's house?

2. How does Tom react, at first, to Maggie's request that she is allowed to see Philip?

3. When they finally meet again, what tool does Philip use to try to remind Maggie of their love for each other?

4. What happens to Bob's house?

5. What does Maggie say that embarrasses Lucy, during Maggie's first meeting with Lucy and Stephen?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Maggie find the ascetic life described by Thomas a Kempis to be so appealing in the years after her family goes bankrupt? Philip Wakem says that she is not really compelled by the ascetic ideal, but that she is stupefying herself into accepting it. Do you think he is correct? Compare the words of Thomas a Kempis with the life that Maggie already is living. Is there a parallel? Why or why not?

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

Write a paper analyzing the plot development in The Mill on the Floss. What do you feel is the climax of the plot? How does Eliot build tension prior to that point? How does she wind the book down after the climax?

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This section contains 360 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample