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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. How does Lachlan feel when he visits Gemmy at Mrs. Hutchence's house?

2. Who does Gemmy move in with after he is attacked?

3. What is Mrs. Hutchence's hobby?

4. What does Gemmy do when he discovers that he cannot extinguish the fire in Willett's home?

5. What do the settlers put on the McIvors' fence?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the event that caused Willett's death.

2. What did Gemmy do that affected Janet and Lachlan's lives?

3. Describe the two events that happen in this chapter which unnerve Jock.

4. Why does Sir George invite Mr. Frazer to speak with him? How does he react to Frazer's proposal?

5. How does Gemmy help Mrs. Hutchence with her beekeeping?

6. What is Sir George's vision for Queensland?

7. What does Jock do in response to the attack on Gemmy?

8. How does Lachlan's relationship with Gemmy change over time?

9. Describe what happens to Janet in this chapter when she removes her bonnet and veil while beekeeping.

10. Describe the mob's attack on Gemmy.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout Remembering Babylon, David Malouf weaves actual events from history into his fictional story. Select one of the situations where he places his characters within a real historical context and:

1) describe the historical context of the scene or chapter (e.g., What actually happened in history that Malouf uses in the book?); and,

2) discuss the relationship between the historical context and the fictional story. What does this piece of history have to do with Gemmy's/the settlers' life/lives? Why does Malouf choose to place these characters at this particular point in the story in this particular historical context?

Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Flashbacks play an important role Remembering Babylon. Select two flashback scenes in the novel and:

1) describe what happens in the scene

2) discuss how this flashback fits into the main plot of the story

3) analyze the importance of including this particular flashback at this point in the story. What impact does the flashback have on the story? How would it be different if it was not there?

Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Race plays an important role in this novel. Discuss several situations where the body is central to the plot of the story. Focus on what the human body is serving as a symbol of at that point in the novel. Be sure to cite specific details from the novel to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

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