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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. Which character returns to town at the beginning of the chapter?

2. How many prisoners does Sotillo have in total?

3. What does Sotillo want to find out from Mitchell?

4. Why did Decoud take the silver?

5. How does Antonia preserve Decoud's memory?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way can Pedro be seen as a weak character?

2. What is Sotillo's plan once he gets to Sulaco?

3. What do the town leaders show is their true worry in Part 3, Chapter 2?

4. Describe Montero's entrance into the town.

5. What does Captain Mitchell say on his tours around the Occidental Republic?

6. In what does Gould still hold power over Pedro in Part 3, Chapter 7?

7. Describe the collision between the two boats in Part 2, Chapter 8.

8. How does Pedro try to convince Gould to hand over his mine?

9. In what way does Nostromo show his attitude towards life has changed in Part 3, Chapter 9?

10. How does Nostromo's role as a servant help him to take the silver?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Look at the structure of the novel.

1) How does Conrad use character and dialogue to drive the narrative.

2) Discuss elements of the narrative structure: Exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

3) Away from the main character, Nostromo, examine the way Conrad uses the other characters in the story. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

Essay Topic 2

Examine South American culture. What influence has it had on the world as a whole? What is Conrad's view on South America? What does this say about Conrad's political views? Does he disagree with foreigners like Charles Gould having so much influence?

Essay Topic 3

The novel is set in South America.

1) What meaning does South America bring to the novel? What would you automatically presume about a novel that was set in South America?

2) How different do you think today's South America is to the South America in the novel? How do you think the novel's meaning would change if it were set in today's South America?

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