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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. Who is the first person to visit the sisters in London?

2. Who does Elinor hope to find more about while in London?

3. Which of the following words does Austen use to describe Sir John?

4. What does Elinor ask Mrs Jennings to stop doing?

5. What is John's opinion of Willoughby?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Elinor further show her tact in this chapter?

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

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

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. Why is Mrs. Dashwood so taken with Willoughby?

6. Why is the fact the sisters are going to London so important?

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

8. In what way does Austen use Colonel Brandon to highlight the sister's differences in character?

9. How do the group's discussion of what they will do with a fortune express their individual characters?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Willoughby and Brandon both tell stories that move the Dashwoods. Why do you think Brandon elicits more sympathy? What do the story says about their different personalities?

Essay Topic 2

Letter writing is an important form of communication in the book and sometimes the only form of communication between two characters. Discuss the role letter writing has in the story.

1) Do Marianne's letters to Willoughby display her immaturity? Does she leave herself open to manipulation?

2) Why do you think Elinor never writes a letter to Edward? What does it say about her character? What does it say about her relationship to Edward?

3) Why do you think Colonel Brandon goes to Barton to deliver the news of Marianne's illness? Would it have been quicker to send Mrs. Dashwood a letter? What does it say about how people regarded letter writing in the eighteenth century? Is it different to how people regard letter writing today?

Essay Topic 3

Look at the structure of the novel.

1) How does Austen use character and dialogue to drive the narrative?

2) Discuss elements of the narrative structure: exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution, and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

3) Away from the main characters Marianne and Elinor, examine the way Austen uses him or her in the story. Does she use him or her for dramatic effect or comic aside? When does she introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

(see the answer keys)

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