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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 religion is the staff at Whittlesea Hospital?

2. Who does Merivel go to after leaving the manor for good?

3. What does Merivel do most of the day while he is ill?

4. From what symptoms is Pearce suffering?

5. How many games does Merivel win?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the King advise Merivel to do with his life?

2. How does Merivel treat Katherine on their journey?

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

4. How does Will feel about his master leaving?

5. What does Merivel offer Finn?

6. What prompts Katherine to try to hang herself?

7. How are the most insane patients treated?

8. What happens when Merivel illicitly visits Katherine?

9. How does Merivel feel about Pearce?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 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

Characters in the novel suffer in different ways and for different reasons. Discuss suffering in the novel.

1) One goal of medicine is to alleviate suffering. How does Merivel try to mitigate suffering as a doctor? How successful is he?

2) How do the poor suffer in the novel? Could their suffering be alleviated? Can one person, such as Merivel, help the poor, or would they need to be helped by changing the society?

3) How do the insane suffer in the novel? What causes their suffering? How can their suffering be alleviated?

(see the answer keys)

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