View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Merivel supposed to do for the Idle?

2. What will Finn get if he does his job well?

3. What does Celia do when Merivel kisses her?

4. What job does the Justice of the Peace give to Merivel?

5. In Merivel's dream of the King, what are his tears made of?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why can't Merivel do what Finn asks of him?

2. Explain the metaphor in the story that Pearce tells Merivel.

3. What does Merivel think of his first attempts at painting?

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

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

6. What does the King's court like about Merivel?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The characters in the novel do not always have an accurate perception of themselves or of others around them. Discuss the characters' perceptions of themselves and others.

1) How does Merivel perceive himself? Is his self-perception accurate? How does Merivel perceive the King over the course of the story? How does he perceive Celia? How does he perceive Pearce? What causes Merivel's perception of himself or others to change?

2) What is Katherine's perception of Merivel? Why does she have this perception? How does Merivel react to it?

3) How does Pearce perceive Merivel? How does the King's perception of Merivel differ from Pearce's?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Merivel is the central character of the novel, and much of the novel revolves around Merivel and his personal perceptions and growth. Discuss Merivel as a character.

1) What are Merivel's primary personality traits at the beginning of the novel? How did those traits develop?

2) How does Merivel change over the course of the novel? How does living at the mental hospital and among the poor in Cheapside affect him?

3) What is Merivel's personality like at the end of the novel? In what ways is he still the same, and in what ways has he changed?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 754 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample