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. Why is Colonel Brandon pleased?

2. Who arrives to see Marianne?

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

4. Why is Fanny happy that Edward has found a job at the parsonage?

5. What does Elinor decide about Mr. Palmer?

Short Essay Questions

1. Is Lucy a bad person?

2. Why does the Colonel ask Elinor to tell Edward about his new position in the Parish?

3. How are Elinor and Marianne different from the society they live in?

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

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

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

7. How much does Marianne's mental state contribute to her illness?

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

9. What did you think are the differences between Willoughby's story and Brandon's earlier tale?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss whether you think the Colonel is a good match for Marianne. Is he a direct replacement for her sister? Do you think the match is more for the sake of Elinor than Marianne? If so, how much does Elinor's practicality oppress her sister's spontaneity?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the values of the eighteenth century.

1) Is it more important to have money in the eighteenth century than it is now? Pick a character and discuss what would happen if they were not born into money. Do you think some of the characters' obsessions with money are justified?

2) Why is marriage in the eighteenth century such an important institution? Is it more important for men or women? Is it wise to marry just for love? Is Jane Austen's happy ending merely a romantic notion that would rarely happen?

3) Does modern society share any values with eighteenth century society?

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)

This section contains 890 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample