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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 causes Michael to change his mind about sleeping with Lord Horn?

2. What does the Duchess's barge look like?

3. How does Richard kill Brent?

4. What unusual item is the person trying to hire Richard wearing?

5. How long does Katherine say that Richard has to give his answer about the job?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ginnie Vandall think of Richard's performance in the sword fight?

2. When Basil meets with Lord Ferris, what does he ask Lord Ferris to do?

3. What do Richard and Alec say about the Duchess, as they watch the party?

4. What do the houses in Old Market look like?

5. What is the most common assumption about who hired St. Vier for the fight?

6. Why is it ill-advised for Lord Horn to send the letter he sends to Richard?

7. Why does Michael originally decide that he will sleep with Lord Horn?

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

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

10. What message does Lord Ferris ask Katherine to send to Richard?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Several of the characters in the novel take self-destructive action. Discuss self-destruction in the novel.

1) Why is Alec self-destructive? How does Richard respond to his self-destructive tendencies?

2) In what ways is Richard self-destructive? How does he put himself in harm's way?

3) What other characters are self-destructive? How do they harm themselves through their actions or inactions?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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