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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. What is another mistake Alexandra makes at the ball?

2. What does Lord Carstairs tell Jordan?

3. Who is George Morgan?

4. What does the Duchess see about Alexandra?

5. What does Jordan notice is gone?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the scene when Bertie confesses and the aftermath.

2. How is Anthony and Alexandra's marriage halted just before the pronouncement of husband and wife?

3. What does Jordan initiate on the picnic and how does it reveal his feelings for Alexandra?

4. How do Jordan and Alexandra differ in their reactions to being at Hawthorne?

5. What two small mistakes does Alexandra make on the night of her coming out?

6. What does Anthony tell Alexandra that begins her getting over grieving Jordan?

7. How does Jordan learn the truth about Alexandra's behavior while he was imprisoned?

8. What does the Dowager finally ask of Anthony and what is his response?

9. What does Alexandra do that upsets Jordan the next morning and what does he order her to do?

10. How does Lord Carstairs create more tension between Jordan and Alexandra?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Something Wonderful, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements (They may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

Something Wonderful deals with the subject of gender, whether it is a deliberate inclusion by McNaught or not. Discuss the following:

1. Define the term "gender."

2. Does gender only refer to whether a person is male or female? Is gender easy to identify?

3. Discuss the English cultural definitions of gender during the time of Something Wonderful and the expectations for each gender. Do any of those expectations exist today?

4. Are women the only ones harmed by gender-based expectations? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

McNaught chooses to write the novel as a third person, impersonal narrator. Discuss the following:

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this novel being written in the third person, omniscient narration?

2. Do you think the novel would be more effective in a different point of view? Which one if so? If not why do you think the impersonal narrator works the best?

3. When do you think an author is most likely to use the first person point of view? Second person? Third person omniscient? Third person limited?

4. Do you think the narrator in Something Wonderful is reliable, i.e., do you believe the narrator is completely unbiased? Explain your response.

5. What is your favorite point of view to read? Or do you have a favorite.

(see the answer keys)

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