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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 does Winnie request of her husband in response to his decision to go outside on the afternoon of his first day back from his trip?

2. How did Mrs. Verloc's mother convince officials to allow her a place in a charity home when she had family to take care of her?

3. How do Winnie and Ossipon plan to make their way to the point of departure in their escape from London?

4. When it becomes apparent during their confrontation that Winnie wants to leave him, what does Mr. Verloc say to get a response from her?

5. On the evening of Mr. Verloc's death, Ossipon suggests they take a midnight train away, however, Winnie insists on returning to the shop saying she recalls what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the assistant commissioner's primary goal in briefing Sir Ethelred?

2. What does Mrs. Verloc's sibling do when a cab driver whips his horse on the ride over to the charity home? Why does her sibling reaction in this way?

3. What does Mr. Verloc attempt to stress to his wife regarding the death of her sibling?

4. What is it the cab driver complains about at the house and what is the sibling's reaction?

5. Shortly after murdering Mr. Verloc, which individual does Winnie encounter in the street offering his assistance, and why is it ironic?

6. What is Mr. Verloc's disposition at the beginning of Chapter 9?

7. How does Chapter 8 conclude with regard to Mrs. Neale?

8. What action does Mr. Verloc take when Mrs. Verloc goes upstairs following her confrontation with him in the kitchen after she learned of Stevie's death?

9. What does the assistant commissioner do upon completion of his meeting with Sir Ethelred, and what does he encounter?

10. What exchange takes place between Mr. and Mrs. Verloc on the afternoon he returns from his out-of-country trip, when he announces he is interested in taking a walk?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Joseph Conrad uses the technique of foreshadowing throughout his text to suggest specific events that will transpire in later chapters. The nature of the Verloc's pornography shop revealed in Chapter 1, for instance, suggests they cross the line of respectability and not everything they engage in is legal. This foreshadows illegal activities in which Mr. Verloc will be engaged in later chapters. Examine five similar examples of where the author has used this technique of foreshadowing.

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 3, Stevie is able to listen to the International Red Committee members' discussion in the parlor from his position in the adjoining kitchen. Conrad allows the reader to know that Stevie is easily upset by so much as a description of cruelty toward others. This foreshadows his reactions to subsequent events. Examine what transpires in this chapter which lays the foundation for this matter in Conrad's tale. Follow it through to the conclusion of Stevie's role in Adolf Verloc's plot.

Essay Topic 3

The professor is never identified beyond his nickname, however, his character is a significant one in the story. Examine his encounter initially with Ossipon in Chapter 4 and once again in Chapter 13. Examine the professor's personality before and subsequent to the bomb explosion, and compare it to Ossipon's before and subsequent to the death of Winnie.

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