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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. What separates Catherine and Isabella for a time at the ball?

2. At the dance in Chapter 8, who is Catherine's only company for most of the evening?

3. How does Catherine describe her ideal man physically?

4. Who does Henry say is to blame for denying Catherine's visit at the Tilney home?

5. In Chapter 9, while riding in the carriage, what topics of conversation arise between Catherine and John?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Isabella and James know each other?

2. How does Isabella already know of Catherine?

3. What comment does Austen make about fashion?

4. Why is Catherine mortified following her visit to the Tilney home?

5. What is puzzling to Catherine about her conversation with John Thorpe on the topic of the carriage her brother drives?

6. Why does Catherine tell Henry that she cannot dance with him?

7. What information does Mrs. Allen give Catherine about Henry's mother?

8. Who does Catherine meet in Chapter 3?

9. Who do Catherine and Isabella meet on the streets at the beginning of Chapter 7?

10. What is the apparent relationship between Isabella and James in Chapter 7?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Austen uses comedy to poke fun at the misfortunes of the characters in "Northanger Abbey". Answer the following questions in an essay:

a) Is Austen's use of comedy effective?

b) What tone does Austen's humor cast on the story?

c) Does Austen's humor translate to the 21st Century?

Essay Topic 2

Research the Austen canon. According to literary critics, how does "Northanger Abbey" compare to Austen's other works in terms of writing style, tone and plot?

Essay Topic 3

The English class system of the early 19th Century is a prominent theme of "Northanger Abbey". The characters of the story must follow the social rules, and doing so often leads to obstacles, misunderstandings and separation. Discuss the effects that the social rules of the high class had on the central characters of the novel.

(see the answer keys)

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