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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. Which of the following comments upsets Edward?

3. Who does Mrs. Jennings say Willoughby is now engaged to?

4. Why does Elinor try to spend more time with Lucy?

5. How does Austen describe the cottage?

Short Essay Questions

1. What comparisons does Austen draw from the Dashwood's situation at Norland with John and their new situation in Barton with Sir John?

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

3. How does Elinor display her logic and rationality in this chapter?

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

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

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

7. Is Brandon a good match for Elinor?

8. Why do you think that at this point in the story, Austen has given the reader a lot more information about Colonel Brandon than about Willoughby?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Dashwoods seem to complement each other perfectly and even though they have problems they work together to get out of them and end the story finding happiness. How do you think they work together so well? What are their individual roles? Is one person stronger than the other?

Take away a member of family from the story and discuss how the story could have been different. Would Marianne still be alive? Could Elinor maintain her practical outlook?

Essay Topic 2

Jane Austen often presents John Dashwood as a figure to make fun of. Do you think this is fair to his character? Is his decision not to give his sisters any money more than just a financial decision? Does he try to make it up to them as the story progresses? What does this say about his character?

Essay Topic 3

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.

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