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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 does Mrs. Jennings think Elinor is getting married to?

2. Where are the Dashwoods preparing to travel to?

3. Why does Willoughby say he has come?

4. Where do the Dashwoods and Mrs. Jennings go?

5. Who does Mrs Jennings tell about Elinor's engagement?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Elinor's unhappy reaction show about her logical character?

2. Is John completely dominated by his wife?

3. Has Elinor's sense always had a positive impact on the characters?

4. What is the importance of the Steele's appearance in the story?

5. Why do you think Fanny and Lady Middleton get along so well?

6. Is Brandon an honorable man?

7. In what ways are Marianne and Mrs. Dashwood alike?

8. How do the sisters differing reactions to leaving London show the contrast between sense and sensibility?

9. Is Elinor and Edward's marriage a victory of true love over societal expectations?

10. Do you think the Dashwoods like John?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the chronological setting of the novel. What forms of transportation did they use? What methods of communication did they use? How does it affect the character's decisions? Do you think the characters would have made different life decisions if they were exposed to a more efficient way of living?

Essay Topic 2

Austen presents Elinor as a logical person, but also hints she oppresses her emotional side for the good of the family.

1) Look at two examples where Elinor represses her emotions. For what reason does she do it? In each instance, what would happen if didn't oppress her emotions?

2) Do you think it is good or bad for Elinor to repress her emotions?

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.

(see the answer keys)

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