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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 does Mrs. Arbuthnot put all of her time and energy into doing?

2. According to Mrs. Fisher, what is Lady Caroline able to do with the servants?

3. Who has set herself up as hostess in Chapter 7?

4. According to Mrs. Arbuthnot, why should she and Mrs.Wilkins be running things at the house?

5. How does Mrs. Fisher feel when she sees she is the only one at the lunch table in Chapter 9?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Mrs. Arbuthnot's and Mrs. Wilkins' first impression of the villa in Chapter 5?

2. What sparks Mrs. Wilkins' and Mrs. Arbuthnots' debate about heaven?

3. How does Mrs. Arbuthnot react to Mrs. Wilkins' suggestions in Chapter 1?

4. Who is the owner of the Italian villa and what does the leasing process entail?

5. Describe Lady Caroline Denster.

6. Why does Mrs. Fisher ask for references in Chapter 3? How do Mrs. Wilkins and Mrs. Arbuthnot react to this?

7. What does Mrs. Arbuthnot believe about her own happiness?

8. How does Mrs. Arbuthnot spend most of her time as explained in Chapter 2?

9. What are some defining characteristics attributed to Mrs. Wilkins and Mrs. Arbuthnot in Chapter 1?

10. What does Mrs. Wilkins do in Chapter 9 that annoys Mrs. Fisher?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the character Lady Caroline. What is her role in the novel and what are her defining character traits? What is troubling her and why does she go to Italy? What do the other women think of her? How does she grow as a character by the end of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the character Mrs. Arbuthnot. What is her role in the novel and what are her defining character traits? Describe her friendship with Mrs. Wilkins. Describe her marriage. How does it transform and why?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the setting of the novel. In what way is the setting an important aspect of this story? How does the Italian setting contrast with the London setting? How does the Italian setting help to transform the four women?

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