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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 Alexandra correct?

2. Where does Alexandra go in the morning?

3. What have rejected suitors been doing?

4. What happens when Jordan and Lord Camden are talking?

5. About what does Alexandra warn Melanie?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the Dowager ask Lord Ponsonby to dance with Alexandra and how does she respond?

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

3. What does Jordan hint about to Alexandra?

4. Why is Alexandra's status as a young, desirable widow worrisome to the Dowager Duchess?

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

6. What does everyone not know about Jordan at the time of Alexandra's coming out ball?

7. What increases Fawkes' belief that Alexandra and Anthony are plotting to kill Jordan?

8. What happens as Jordan is talking with Lord Camden and what does Jordan do as a result?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Alexandra's father as it is learned after he dies, is a polygamist. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think more men than women are polygamists? Mr. Lawrence keeps the existence of his other family secret from his first wife. Why do you think he does so? What would you say about his integrity?

2. How do you think women are viewed in countries where polygamy is illegal such as England? How do you think they are viewed in countries where polygamy is legal? Discuss the differences

3. Should polygamy be controlled by law and what are the advantages and disadvantages to allowing polygamy?

4. If polygamy were legal in your country for either men or woman, would you consider more than one husband or wife? Explain 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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