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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 does Celia do for the bird when it's sick?

2. How long is Merivel with his bride before being interrupted on his wedding night?

3. What demand did Celia make on the King?

4. How soon does the King offer to take Celia back, if she gives up her demand?

5. Where is Merivel's painting instructor living?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Merivel think about his promise as an artist before he begins trying to paint?

2. What does Celia look like?

3. Why has Celia come to the mansion?

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

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

6. Why does Reverend Sackpole want Merivel to examine Nell?

7. Describe what Pearce tells Merivel about the present Finn brings.

8. What does the King order Merivel to do for him at the end of the first chapter?

9. How does Merivel imagine the representation of his astrological sign?

10. Why doesn't Merivel try to treat his dog himself?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the novel's treatment of women.

1) How does the novel portray women? What role do women hold in the society, and how does their societal role affect their behavior and personalities?

2) How do the male characters perceive and react to women? What do the male characters think of women, and how do they treat women?

3) How does the author perceive women? How can you distinguish between the characters' perceptions and the author's perception?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss fate in the novel.

1) Is Merivel in control of his own destiny? How is Merivel governed by fate in the novel?

2) What determines the fates of the rich and the poor in the novel? Why do characters seem to lack control over their own destinies?

3) Discuss Merivel's rescue of the woman from the burning building. Is Merivel a hero for having saved the woman? How is this incident governed by fate? How does Merivel benefit from it?

Essay Topic 3

Power is a defining element in relationships in the novel. Discuss power in the novel.

1) What gives characters power over others in the novel?

2) What gives the King power, and what are the limits of the King's power? How does the King use his power?

3) What kind of power does Merivel have as a doctor and as an associate of the King in the novel? How does he use this power?

(see the answer keys)

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