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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 Lady Godwin's son Michael's reaction to his mother's conversation with Lady Mary Halliday and Duchess Tremontaine?

2. What does Lord Ferris hope to gain after Basil is killed?

3. What is Basil's position on swordsmen's right to refuse a job?

4. What entertainment does the Duchess have at her party?

5. When does Michael say he will meet Lord Horn next?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Richard say after he kills Brent?

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

4. How does Basil look in comparison to Michael?

5. How does Richard describe his relationship with Alec to Katherine?

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

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

8. Why is the idea of becoming a swordsman a joke for Michael?

9. What is Michael's relationship with Vincent Applethorpe?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Richard is the central figure of the novel. Discuss Richard's character.

1) How does Richard change from the beginning to the end of the novel. Does he change?

2) What motivates and drives Richard throughout the novel? What does he want or desire?

3) Why does the novel focus on Richard as a central character?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the play "The Swordman's Tragedy" within the novel.

1) What does the play reflect about the novel itself? Why does the author include it?

2) How do the different characters react to the superstitions surrounding the play? How do the existence of these superstitions affect the reader?

3) How does Richard perceive the play? What is his point of view about the play before seeing it and after watching it?

Essay Topic 3

Several characters move between social classes in the novel. Discuss moving between social classes in Swordspoint.

1) How does Katherine move out of Riverside and to the Hill? What is the cost and benefit of this move? Why does she make it? How does it change her life and status?

2) How does Alec move out of the Hill and into Riverside? What is the cost and benefit of this move? Why does he make it? How does it change his life and status?

3) How does Richard, as a swordsman, move between the upper and lower classes?

(see the answer keys)

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