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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. Who does Jean promise Crimond she won't see again?

2. What does Jean tell Tamar she must learn to do?

3. Who does Crimond think sent Tamar?

4. Whose flat do the brotherhood sit in to discuss Crimond?

5. For what reason does Jenkin say Jean left their company?

Short Essay Questions

1. What impassioned spech does Jean give about her and Crimond's relationship?

2. Why does Tamar fall into a deep depression?

3. What does Gerard and Crimond discuss during their meeting about Crimond's book?

4. Why do the group decide to support Crimond?

5. Why does Tamar finally agree to give up her studies?

6. How does Crimond respond to Jean's impassioned speech?

7. Why does Violet oppose Gideon and Pat's proposal to adopt her daughter?

8. Why does Crimond and Jean's plan go wrong?

9. What does Gerard propose to Jenkin when Jenkin tells him Crimond has finished his book?

10. How do Crimond and Jean plan to kill themselves?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are the main turning points of the novel? How does Murdoch develop her story to get to each turning point? What happens to the story after a major turning point?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the author's writing style. How would you describe the author's prose style? What kind of vocabulary does he use? What meaning does the author's style give to the story?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss elements of the narrative structure; Exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

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