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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. Where does Angel first see Tess?

2. Why does Tess decide not to return home from Tantridge after all?

3. At dinnertime, Angel is seated at a different table than the other dairy workers because ______.

4. What is Tess's reaction to the job offer at Tantridge?

5. At Talbothays, Tess is supervised by ______.

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 6, how is Alec portrayed?

2. What happens on the drive to Mrs. D'Uberville's home?

3. What kind of personality is Tess's mother?

4. How is Mr. Durbeyfield portrayed in in the first chapter?

5. Why is Tess upset when her baby becomes ill and dies, and what does this show about her attitude towards religion?

6. Why does Tess go to work at Talbothays, and what does she hope will happen once she is away from home?

7. In Chapter 10, one of the characters says "Out of the frying pan into the fire!" What is meant by this, and why does Hardy include this scene?

8. Why does Tess feel threatened when she first sees Angel at Talbothays?

9. How is Mrs. D'Urberville described?

10. Describe the scene concerning the accident with the horse. What does that show about Tess's character?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 47, Alec tells Tess that because she is the cause of his religious backsliding, she is obligated to marry him and share in his fate. What does he mean by this, and does his reasoning make any sense?

Essay Topic 2

Some people read Hardy's work as a commentary on forms of oppression (religious, political, racial, social). Discuss, using at least three different examples from the text to back up your opinion.

Essay Topic 3

What reason does Tess give Angel for having killed Alec? Do her reasons make sense? Do they justify her actions?

(see the answer keys)

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