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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. At what time of day did Molly Farren leave to make the trip to the Red House?

2. When Mrs. Kimble asks Silas Marner to surrender the child to the women’s care, what is his response?

3. What does Eppie ask Silas Marner if they could build outside of their house?

4. What is Molly Farren addicted to?

5. Why do Godfrey and Nancy step out during the dance?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Silas Marner’s trial of using the coal-hole work?

2. What does Eppie express a desire for as they leave the church? How does this reflect Eppie’s life with Silas Marner?

3. What was Silas Marner doing when Eppie entered his cottage?

4. Why is the connection between Eppie’s hair and Marner’s lost gold significant?

5. Is the religious life of Raveloe the same as that of Lantern Yard?

6. Why is Molly Farren on her way to the New Year’s Eve dance at the Red House? What are her motivations?

7. Dolly Winthrop seems to be the only visitor who comes with genuine care. Does her visit succeed in convincing Silas Marner to attend church on Christmas? Why or why not?

8. Why does Godfrey feel the need to confess everything at once to his father?

9. How does Silas attempt to keep track of Eppie while he works?

10. How is Silas Marner viewed as Part 2 of the story begins?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Part 2 of the novel, we see Godfrey Cass happy with everything except his lack of children. How does Eliot use Godfrey’s this as a symbol of the consequences of his failure to do what was right?

Essay Topic 2

Explain how Silas Marner and Eppie’s trip back to his old home of Lantern Yard failed to bring closure to the injustices of his past. Then explain how that lack of justice fails to ruin Silas Marner’s true happiness as the story ends.

Essay Topic 3

In many ways, Silas Marner is a simple protagonist who does very little aside from enduring through the trials he is put through. Select three other characters besides Marner that Eliot uses to move the plot forward and write about how each of them impacts the story.

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