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. Who does Mrs. Jennings say is coming to town?

2. Which family does Austen immediately introduce in this chapter?

3. Which two character does Mrs. Jennings try to match up?

4. How much money does John initially decide to give his stepmother and sisters?

5. What does Marianne do at the party?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do you think the importance of Willoughby is to the story at this point?

2. Is Mrs. Jennings merely a gossip, or does she genuinely care about people?

3. Is Marianne in love with Willoughby?

4. In this chapter, why is Brandon's sudden departure so important to the development of his character and particularly in comparison to Willoughby?

5. Outline what you think are Elinor's main characteristics.

6. Does Elinor strike up a friendship with Lucy because she likes her?

7. Why do you think Edward never approaches the subject of why he is so upset?

8. Is it important that Mr. and Mrs. Palmer are opposites?

9. Why do you think Austen presents Sir John and his wife as nice people, but overall overbred simpletons?

10. Why do you think Elinor tries to act normally with Edward even though she is upset with his strange behavior?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Pick a character from the novel and discuss their goals and motives. Do they achieve their motive? Why? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters with other characters? How do the character's goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

Essay Topic 2

One of the major themes of the novel is the benefit of logic over emotion. Do you think Austen places too much emphasis on logic? Could the logical characters work more efficiently without the more emotional character? Or do they both work to keep each other in check?

Take a scene from the novel where logic prevails and discuss what would happen if there was no logical thinking to keep the emotional characters in check.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss whether you think this statement is true or false: In Sense and Sensibility, the female characters are stronger than the male characters and control the story. Use one of the relationships in the novel--for example, Elinor and Edward, to highlight your argument.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 862 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample