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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 animal does the King ask Merivel to cure?

2. How does Merivel think the King feels about him?

3. How is the person in the story cured?

4. What does Nell tell Merivel will happen to him?

5. Who is present at every meeting between Merivel and Celia when they are courting?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Merivel's reaction to the letter about Rosie?

2. Who has Celia invited to the house, and why?

3. What is Merivel's response to the King summoning him with a letter?

4. How does Celia act during her meetings with Merivel before the wedding?

5. What does Merivel do after he leaves Celia on their wedding night?

6. What does Merivel think about when he visits Kaw?

7. What is wrong with Lady Bathurst's husband?

8. How does Merivel set about the job given to him by the Justice of the Peace?

9. What does Merivel fantasize about while he's having sex with Violet?

10. What does the King tell Merivel in his dream?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Love is an important element of Merivel's relationships with others. Discuss love in the novel.

1) Who does Merivel love and why? What is his love for the King based on? What is his love for Pearce based on? What is his love for Celia based on? Does Merivel truly love any of these characters?

2) Who loves Merivel, and why? What is Katherine's love for Merivel based on? What is Merivel's servant's love for him based on? Does Merivel return any of the other characters' love?

3) How does love between the characters govern their actions in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the different settings in the novel.

1) How does the King's palace differ from how the majority of people in the kingdom live? What significance is there to the Psychic Garden or to other areas of the King's palace?

2) What does Merivel's decoration of his manor indicate about his own personality? Why does the manor give Merivel a position as Lord and as Overseer of the Poor? What other significance does the manor have?

3) What does the setting of the mental hospital add to the novel? What significance do the hospital's gates have?

Essay Topic 3

Religion and the presence of God is a strong motif throughout the novel. Discuss religion in the novel.

1) Compare the King to God. How are they similar? How are they different?

2) What relationship do the Quakers at the mental hospital have with God? What affect does this relationship have on Merivel?

3) What relationship does Merivel have with God and religion?

(see the answer keys)

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