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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 does Ginnie react to Richard's decision about the kidnappers' demands?

2. What is the first injury Richard inflicts on Lord Horn?

3. Who does Lord Ferris want to meet with, after he hears that Michael has left town?

4. What is Alec's mood when he returns home?

5. What does Basil Halliday think about the use of swordsmen to defend a nobleman's honor?

Short Essay Questions

1. For what reason does Richard claim he killed Lord Horn?

2. After Richard leaves the Duchess's estate, what is Alec's attitude?

3. What letter do the kidnappers ask Alec to write to Richard?

4. What does the Duchess tell Alec about Richard and their relationship after Richard has left?

5. Why does Lord Ferris want to see Richard after he is captured?

6. What is Richard and Alec's last night together like?

7. How does the Duchess act toward Michael?

8. What happens at the beginning of the formal inquiry into Lord Horn's death?

9. How does Basil Halliday react to the news of Lord Horn's death?

10. How does Lord Ferris see his relationship with the Duchess?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In many way, the novel is a love story about Richard and Alec. Discuss love in the novel.

1) How does Richard express his love for Alec? What does love mean to Richard?

2) How does Alec express his love for Richard? What does love mean to Alec?

3) How do the other characters express love? Is love different among different social classes? How is love viewed by society in general?

Essay Topic 2

When Michael first meets Basil, he sees Basil as more manly. Discuss manliness in the novel.

1) In what ways does Michael become more manly over the course of the novel? Why? What does this say about the idea of manliness?

2) How is Basil manly? What does this say about his character?

3) How is Richard manly? What qualities of manliness does he have, and how do these qualities compare or contrast with Basil?

Essay Topic 3

Richard, as a swordsman, has a violent and even bloodthirsty role in the novel. Discuss violence and death in the novel.

1) How does the society look at death? How seriously does the society take death and violence?

2) What power does Richard's ability to inflict death give him? What other characters gain power through death and violence?

3) How is violence viewed differently by the different social classes in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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