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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 event becomes a part of each of Mary and Colin's days while on vacation?

2. What do Mary and Colin discover after they make love one evening?

3. Who do Mary and Colin meet while at the cafe?

4. What does Colin tell Caroline is the only downside to his and Mary's visit to Venice?

5. What does Robert do to encourage Mary and Colin to return to the bar?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the setting of the first chapter

2. What is unusual about Robert's interactions with Mary and Colin in this chapter?

3. Describe the setting around the tourist attraction clock tower.

4. Describe the gallery in Robert and Caroline's apartment

5. What does Mary tell Colin she dreams about during their daily naps?

6. How does Robert's father react to him soiling his study? How does this make Robert feel?

7. Why does Mary begin thinking of her children in this chapter? What does she wish she had done?

8. Why does Caroline lock Mary and Colin's clothes in a cabinet?

9. How does Mary and Colin's relationship with the hotel maid change over the course of their vacation?

10. Describe Robert's first meeting with Caroline.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the themes in this novel is the concept of gender roles. Discuss the ways that this theme plays out in the novel and the overarching message about gender that the author is trying to make. Be sure to cite specific evidence from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Select the most sympathetic and least sympathetic characters in the novel. Write an essay:

1) describing why you think each is sympathetic/not sympathetic

2) defend your position using details from the novel

Essay Topic 3

Read the two inscriptions at the beginning of the novel.

Discuss the significance of these quote in reference to the novel. How do they fit (or not fit) the novel? Why do you think Ian McEwan chose these quotes? How do they work together to demonstrate the themes of the novel?

Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

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