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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 James characterize the lifestyle John Marcher leads?

2. Why does John Marcher think he was invited along?

3. How long did stories need to be in James' time?

4. How does James describe May Bartram's physical appearance?

5. What has Dencombe just received as 'The Middle Years' opens?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of the title of this story?

2. What happens to bring May Bartram and John Marcher into closer friendship?

3. How does Spencer Brydon react to the changes that took place in New York over the last 33 years?

4. What did James study before he took to writing, and how did this influence his writing?

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

6. Where do John Marcher and May Bartram meet in 'The Beast in the Jungle'?

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

8. What does Dencombe realize in the end of 'The Middle Years'?

9. What is the difference between the doctor's relationship with Dencombe and his relationship with the Countess?

10. Describe Marcher's lifestyle.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the critical commentary for one of the stories. Which commentator seems to provide the most helpful insight into the story? How do you explain the other commentators' interest? What remains to be explained after these different commentaries?

Essay Topic 2

Write a character sketch of the author based on his style and content. What values does he hold dear? What are his hopes and fears? What kind of person do you think he is? Anchor your sketch in passages in the book.

Essay Topic 3

Is James' outlook tragic or comic? Is it realistic or pragmatic? Make an argument for the overall tone of James' stories.

(see the answer keys)

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