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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 is the straw resting-place for the doll called?

2. What does Piepold spend his days thinking of?

3. Who does Merivel mistake for his mother?

4. How long is Merivel confined to bed?

5. What date does the dance finally occur?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the staff of the hospital decide to do because of the plague?

2. What act of bravery does Merivel commit?

3. How does Merivel treat Katherine on their journey?

4. How does Will feel about his master leaving?

5. What is Merivel able to do at the funeral that he could not do while Pearce was alive?

6. Describe Edmund's dreams.

7. How does Merivel feel about Bath?

8. How does the King feel about Merivel, after time has passed?

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

10. What does Merivel offer Finn?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 653 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample