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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 Willoughby say he loves?

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

3. What does Marianne reproach her sister for being?

4. Who is Robert Ferrars marrying?

5. Who does Mrs. Dashwood receive letters from?

Short Essay Questions

1. Is John completely dominated by his wife?

2. Is Brandon an honorable man?

3. Does Elinor make the right decision in telling her about Willoughby?

4. Why does Austen present John Dashwood as a comic figure?

5. Is Willoughby a better match for Marianne than the Colonel?

6. How is Mrs. Dashwood one of the more unselfish characters in the book?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How much is Marianne's depression responsible for her illness? Is her changeable mood also responsible for her recovery? What do you think this says about Austen's thoughts on illness and eighteenth century society in general?

Essay Topic 2

Setting plays a big part in the novel, and the Dashwoods find themselves going from one extreme to another. With this mind, compare the following settings and its effects on the characters and the story. Do the characters behavior change during the novel? Is it significant Marianne gets ill in Cleveland rather than London?

1) London versus Cleveland

2) Norland Park versus Barton Park

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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