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 food do William, the French administrator, and the administrator's children reject while dining on the <i>Francmacon</i>?

2. On what animal has William Boot composed one of his "more finished essays," as reported in Book 1, Chapter 2?

3. At what time of the evening does Mrs. Stitch invariably go home, according to John Boot?

4. What is the name of the companion's valet on the train?

5. Who is the most valued friend of John Boot?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Mrs. Stitch react to John Boot's perplexed inquiries regarding his invitation to knighthood?

2. Why is the French colonial administrator aboard the <i>Francmacon</i> perplexed by William going to Ishmaelia?

3. How is William treated when he first arrives at Croydon, and what affects this sort of treatment?

4. How do the guests of Lord Copper's banquet amuse themselves while Lord Copper delivers his 38-minute speech?

5. How does William avoid meeting with any of the important members of the <i>Daily Beast</i> when he arrives in London?

6. How - and why - is Corker dressed upon his arrival in the dining room of the <i>Francmacon</i>?

7. Why do the newspapers routinely return from the sickrooms "hopelessly mutilated" at Boot Magna Hall?

8. Describe the condition of the <i>Francmacon</i>, the ship upon which William has to sail from Marseilles.

9. Why does William not travel with the rest of the journalists to Laku?

10. How does Mr. Baldwin affect the counter-revolution which overthrows the Soviet Union of Ishmaelia?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

An essential and amusing part of Evelyn Waugh's Scoop is the use of telegrams, or cables for short. Write an analytical essay on their significance to the story, both in terms of character development and of satirization of the newspaper industry. What do the cables demonstrate about the particular characters in the story? What do they tell the reader about the newspaper industry?

Essay Topic 2

As the protagonist of the story, William is the principle character around whom all of the novel's action revolves. Through action, the character of William is revealed. Analyze this revelation, explicating both the ways in which William changes from the beginning to the end of the story and the ways he remains the same. Describe his fundamental character traits and evaluate the presentation given of him in Scoop. What sort of character is he? Is the reader persuaded to view him sympathetically or not?

Essay Topic 3

Part of Waugh's satirical presentation of the newspaper industry is the attitude of the journalists. Compose an analytical essay which discusses the various ways in which the journalists chase after stories. How do they attempt to get a leg-up on the competition? What sort of loyalties do they form, and how are they broken? Do they really care about the news or just about reporting it? What is implied about the industry by the actions of the journalists?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 919 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample