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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 many of Lord Horn's swordsmen have been killed?

2. Does Richard agree to the kidnappers' demands?

3. Why did the Duchess want Richard brought to court?

4. After Richard kills Lord Horn, who is looking for him?

5. How difficult is it for Richard to break into Lord Horn's house?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the Duchess and Michael's first night as lovers.

2. What does the Duchess tell Katherine after Alec injures himself?

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

4. What does Richard think of the performance he and Alec go to?

5. How do the men who capture Richard incapacitate him?

6. What does Richard say about the death of Lord Horn's swordsmen?

7. How do Alec and Richard react to Lord Horn lying at the trial?

8. How does Lord Horn feel when he finds Richard has broken into his house?

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

10. How does Lord Horn respond to Alec?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Discuss power and corruption in the novel?

1) Who among the nobility has power? How do the nobles gain, keep, and use their power?

2) Lord Horn and Lord Ferris are corrupt. How does their corruption affect how they use their power? What corrupts them? How are they different from Lord Basil?

3) Who among the lower classes has power? How do the lower-class gain, keep, and use their power?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the novel's point of view.

1) Why does the novel move between different characters' points of view? What different perspectives does it give the reader?

2) What are the primary characters whose points of view are shown in the novel? Find a character who never takes the narrative point of view. Why is this character excluded?

3) How much does the reader's perspective change as the point of view switches between different characters or areas of the society?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 708 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample