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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. How did Applethorpe lose his arm?

2. What is most important to the high society in the novel?

3. Where does St. Vier go after the duel?

4. What is the party the Duchess invites Basil and Mary to in honor of?

5. What is Katherine's current profession?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Alec's advice to Richard about the job Richard has been offered?

2. Describe the job that Richard is approached with in Chapter 8.

3. Why are Lady Mary Halliday and Duchess Tremontaine annoyed when Lady Godwin and her son arrive?

4. What does Richard St. Vier give his landlady when he first sees her in the novel, and why?

5. What interferes with Ferris speaking privately with Basil after their dinner together?

6. How does the Duchess act toward Michael during the party?

7. What is the conflict between Lord Basil Halliday and Lord Karleigh?

8. What does Richard tell Katherine about Alec's background?

9. Who does Richard tell Ginnie to thank, and why?

10. What happens when Alec wakes Richard during the night, after Richard's meeting with Katherine?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The world of the novel is run primarily by men, leaving women as players in the background. Discuss the role of women in the novel.

1) What is the place of women in society in the novel? How is the role of women different on the Hill and in Riverside?

2) What is the Duchess's role in society like? How does she gather power in a world where men hold the power? How does she exemplify women among the nobles?

3) What is Katherine's role in society? How is her life different because she's a woman? What hazards and opportunities does her gender create?

Essay Topic 2

The main characters of the novel are gay lovers. Discuss gender and sex in the novel.

1) How does the society of the novel view bisexuality and homosexuality? Are Alec and Richard accepted as lovers? Why or why not?

2) How do the different classes of the society view sex differently? How do they view promiscuity as well as homosexuality?

3) What role does the fact that Alec and Richard are the same gender play in the novel? Does it make a difference?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the characters' values in the novel.

1) What are the values of the lower class? What do they find important?

2) What are Richard's values and how do they drive his actions? What are Alec and Katherine's values?

3) What are the values of the upper class? What do Lord Horn, Lord Ferris, and the Duchess value?

4) What does Basil value, and how do his values differ from other nobility? What about Michael? What does he value?

(see the answer keys)

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