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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 has Dencombe just received as 'The Middle Years' opens?

2. What was terrible about the event John Marcher waited for?

3. Whose life does John Marcher think his life should have resembled?

4. What did people think fiction should do, according to Henry James?

5. Where does John Marcher work?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is unique about the narration of 'In the Cage'?

2. What is the telegraph operator's fiancée asking her to do?

3. Describe the relationship between Marcher and Bartram.

4. What part does the telegraph operator play in the affair between Lady Bradeen and Captain Everard?

5. What effect does the affair of Lady Bradeen and Captain Everard have on the telegraph operator?

6. What is the tragedy of 'The Middle Years'?

7. Who is the main character of 'In the Cage,' and what is he dilemma?

8. Describe Marcher's lifestyle.

9. Describe the meeting of Captain Everard and the telegraph operator.

10. Where is 'In the Cage' set?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are the rules that govern James' storytelling? What can you surmise from his essays and stories? Do his stories and his essays agree?

Essay Topic 2

Where is the climax of this book? Are there different climaxes? What questions does each climax resolve? What questions does each climax leave unanswered?

Essay Topic 3

What makes Henry James an American author?

(see the answer keys)

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