View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Robert say Mary is "very quick"?

2. What did Robert actually intend to do when he broke Caroline's back?

3. What does the "apelike" teenage boy spend his time doing while at the beach?

4. Why do Mary and Colin laugh at the other tourists in the hotel cafe?

5. How does Robert react when Colin repeatedly asks him questions about the photograph?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the interactions between Mary and Colin while they ride the river taxi. How are these different than their earlier encounters?

2. What does Caroline request of Colin? Why?

3. What changes about Colin's appearance in this chapter? How does Robert react to this change? How does Mary react?

4. What does Colin say in response to Robert's monologue on gender relations? How does Robert respond to Colin's comment?

5. How do Mary and Colin's conversations compare to their lovemaking?

6. According to Robert, how do the roles of men and women differ now from the time when his father was alive?

7. What do Robert and Caroline initially do to Colin? How does he prevent this?

8. How does Colin's experience with Robert at the bar compare to Mary's experience with Caroline in the apartment?

9. How does Mary's reaction to Robert's photograph differ from Colin's?

10. What does Mary discover in the apartment when she awakens?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

One of the themes The Comfort of Strangers explores is sexuality. Discuss what the novel has to say about this theme. Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the men and women in this novel. How are the female characters similar/different? How are the male characters similar/different? Then discuss why you think the author presents this variety of male and female characters in the novel. Be sure to cite specific evidence from the novel to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 963 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample