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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. Why was Paris sent to jail?

2. In what city does the Prologue take place?

3. Who thanks the gods in Book One, Part Four?

4. Which weapon is presented in Book One, Part Two, Chapter 14?

5. Where does the cast of the play meet due to rainy weather?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the setting for the Prologue.

2. What good results from the slaves going aboard the ship, according to the narrator in Book One, Part Four?

3. What does Erasmus compare to cattle in Book One, Part Four?

4. Why was Paris imprisoned?

5. What happens between Deakin, Calley, and Libby in Book One, Part Three?

6. How would you describe Erasmus as he is presented in the first half of the book?

7. Which three characters share a toast in Book One and why do they share it?

8. What tragedy occurs while the Ship is being built?

9. Why is Kemp so motivated to convince Paris to go aboard the Ship?

10. Why does Erasmus dislike Henry Adams?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is Unsworth's story ultimately resolved? Do you think that the plot was adequately resolved? In your opinion, what could have been added (or removed) to make it more meaningful?

Essay Topic 2

Identify the climax of this story and the series of events leading up to it. How did characters respond to the climax? What did Unsworth include in his story to insure that the climax would be as powerful and meaningful as possible?

Essay Topic 3

Paris experiences flashbacks in this story that refer to his prior experiences with his wife and his printing of illegal materials. What do those flashbacks teach us about Paris? What purpose do the flashbacks serve in the story?

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This section contains 618 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample