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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does James say a damsel in a small village can write about, if she is someone on whom nothing is lost?
(a) Military life.
(b) Faraway lands.
(c) Evil.
(d) Married life.

2. What has Dencombe just received as 'The Middle Years' opens?
(a) A check.
(b) His most recent book.
(c) A letter from his wife.
(d) Notice of a friend's death.

3. What do Dencombe and Dr. Hugh assume about each other before they have met?
(a) They are avid readers.
(b) They are writers.
(c) They are both invalids.
(d) They are book reviewers.

4. Where does Spencer Brydon return to at the beginning of 'Jolly Corner'?
(a) New York.
(b) London.
(c) Venice.
(d) Paris.

5. What does Dencombe realize as he dies?
(a) Writers are already dead.
(b) People only get one chance.
(c) People die and get reborn all the time.
(d) Books only live forever if they have readers.

6. What distracts Dencombe from his meditation on his own future?
(a) He picks up his book.
(b) He watches people milling about on the lawn below him.
(c) He watches the birds in the trees.
(d) Three people walking up the path.

7. Who is the main character?
(a) A Countess.
(b) A factory girl.
(c) A clerk.
(d) A telegraph operator.

8. Which was NOT one of Mr. Besant's general laws of fiction?
(a) The story should be psychologically true if not literally true.
(b) The author should write from experience.
(c) Characters must be lifelike.
(d) Stories should have a moral purpose.

9. How does James characterize John Marcher's social life?
(a) He travels as much as possible.
(b) He accepts invitations from time to time.
(c) He hardly ever goes out.
(d) He is always socializing.

10. What happens to Dencombe before he can tell Dr. Hugh that he is a writer?
(a) Dr. Hugh tells him about the Countess and Miss Vernham.
(b) He faints.
(c) Dr. Hugh is called away.
(d) He dies.

11. What disappointing news does the main character find out about Captain Everard?
(a) He is generally regarded as a scoundrel.
(b) He is dying of tuberculosis.
(c) He has many mistresses.
(d) He is heavily in debt.

12. How does James characterize Lady Bradeen?
(a) Mousy and fragile.
(b) Elegant and beautiful.
(c) Savvy and manipulative.
(d) Intimidating and smart.

13. How does James describe the Countess?
(a) Stout and middle-aged.
(b) Fit and energetic.
(c) Mousy and retiring.
(d) Fragile and unhealthy-looking.

14. Why does James say John Marcher lives like this?
(a) To search for the most suitable partner.
(b) To avoid others detecting his secret.
(c) To remedy his guilt about inheriting his father's money.
(d) To give himself time to make his secret less destructive in his life.

15. Where does the main character stroll past on her way home?
(a) Captain Everard's apartment.
(b) Mrs. Jordan's house.
(c) Lady Braden's home.
(d) Mr. Mudge's flat.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does James say fiction must be, above all?

2. What did the old superstition say about fiction?

3. Why does Dencombe feel this way?

4. How does James characterize the neighborhood where the telegraph office is located?

5. What does May Bartram buy in London?

(see the answer keys)

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