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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. Who comes to the hospital for a visit and is turned away?

2. What does Ambrose make Merivel do before passing through the gate?

3. What calms Katherine down?

4. What does Merivel name the baby?

5. How has Merivel changed physically at Whittlesea?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the music at the dance.

2. How does Merivel react to Katherine's death?

3. How does Merivel feel about Bath?

4. Who makes up the staff of Whittlesea Hospital?

5. Describe Edmund's dreams.

6. What prompts Katherine to try to hang herself?

7. How does Will feel about his master leaving?

8. How does Merivel treat Katherine on their journey?

9. What happens when Merivel illicitly visits Katherine?

10. What does Pearce wonder about flowers?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the role of medicine in the novel.

1) Why does the author choose the medical field as Merivel's profession? What does his desire to be a doctor say about his personality? What is the role of a doctor in a society?

2) How effective is Merivel as a doctor? What qualities does Merivel have that make him a good or bad doctor? How much control does Merivel have over how effective a doctor he is?

Essay Topic 2

In the novel, responsibility is an important theme. The King holds the responsibility for his kingdom and its people. Parents hold responsibility for their children; lords hold responsibility for peasants and servants. People are responsible for their animals. Discuss responsibility in the novel.

1) What is the relationship of power and responsibility in the novel? What are the consequences for the powerful of neglecting their responsibilities?

2) How do the characters in the novel take responsibility for their own lives? To what extend are the characters capable of being responsible for their own lives and destinies?

3) When and why do characters take responsibility for others?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the characters' control over their own lives in the novel.

1) How does a character's birth and family affect his or her life in the novel? Can a character change the course of his or her life?

2) How does chance and fate affect the characters' lives in the novel?

3) How do characters control their own lives and futures in the novel, and to what extent?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 662 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample