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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 is the main topic of conversation while Robert, Caroline, Mary and Colin dine together?

2. What does Mary realize that frightens her?

3. What delights Mary the most about swimming in the ocean?

4. Which of the following is NOT a change that occurs for Mary and Colin during this chapter?

5. Where do Mary and Colin go initially after leaving the beach?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Robert hold Colin's hand as they walk to the bar? What does he tell people about their relationship?

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

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

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

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

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

7. What does Colin confess to Mary as they are sitting on the beach? How does Mary react?

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

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

10. What does Mary intend to do when she goes to the morgue? What does she do instead?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout The Comfort of Strangers Ian McEwan foreshadows the tragic final event in the novel. Select three events in the novel that foreshadow this event. Discuss how these events act as foreshadowing and how their significance becomes evident when the final scene occurs.

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

Essay Topic 2

The past is essential to Robert's development as a character. Discuss at least three events/people from the past that influenced Robert's character. Focus on describing the event as well as discussing how the event determined the person Robert becomes. Be sure to cite specific details from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

There are several turning points in the plot of this novel. Select two major turning points in the plot and discuss:

1) how the event is a turning point

2) how the story would be different if the event had gone in a different direction.

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

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 972 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample