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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. Why does Mary propose amputating Colin's arms and legs?

2. Why does Colin quickly swim out to Mary?

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

4. What prevents Mary from saving Colin's life?

5. Why does Colin play "Ha Ha Ha" on the jukebox?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Mary and Caroline's views on theatre differ? How are they the same?

2. Describe Mary and Colin's routine for the days following their visit to Robert and Caroline's apartment.

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 confess to Mary as they are sitting on the beach? How does Mary react?

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

6. Describe the two times that Mary and Colin discuss Robert's photograph of Colin in this chapter. How are they different?

7. How do the police react to Mary's statement about Colin's murder? Why?

8. Why do Mary and Colin leave late for the beach? What is the motivation behind their change of plans?

9. Why doesn't Mary respond much to Caroline's stories? What is likely the source of her silence?

10. Describe the scene in the ocean involving Mary and Colin.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout The Comfort of Strangers the author explores what it means to be a stranger. Discuss how characters in this novel are strangers focusing on what makes them strangers. Then discuss the author's view of the stranger. Is it better to be a stranger or to not be a stranger, according to McEwan? Why?

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

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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