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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. Whenever Florence Dowell hears that a woman is visiting the Ashburnhams in England, what does she do?

2. When does John Dowell hear for the first time that his wife and Captain Edward Ashburnham have been having an affair?

3. When John Dowell first meets Captain Edward Ashburnham, John finds Edward to be what?

4. In Part 2, Chapter 2, John Dowell compares Leonora Ashburnham to which of the following animals:

5. Which best describes the social views and character of Florence Dowell's family?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the marriage between Leonora Ashburnham and Captain Edward Ashburnham.

2. How do the personalities of Florence Dowell and Leonora Ashburnham differ?

3. Why does Leonora Ashburnham become upset when Florence Dowell points to the document by Martin Luther, touches Edward's wrist and says, "It's because of that piece of paper that you're honest, sober, industrious, provident, and clean-lived. If it weren't for that piece of paper you'd be like the Irish or the Italians or the Poles, but particularly the Irish" ?

4. Does Florence Dowell indeed have a heart condition?

5. Why does John Dowell laugh at Leonora Ashburnham when she says she can learn to "accept the situation" between Florence Dowell and Captain Edward Ashburnham?

6. According to John Dowell, why does Florence never tell John the truth about her sexual history?

7. Do you think Captain Edward Ashburnham's romantic feelings for Nancy Rufford are morally reprehensible?

8. Describe Captain Edward Ashburnham's reputation and accomplishments.

9. John Dowell supposes that Captain Edward Ashburnham eventually tired of Florence Dowell's affection. What might have caused Captain Edward Ashburnham to become tired of his affair with Florence?

10. According to John Dowell's point of view, what qualities define English culture?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast The Good Soldier's two male main characters, Edward Ashburnham and John Dowell. Are either of these characters more of a "man" than the other? Of these two characters, who does Ford seem to sympathize with the most? What qualities make either of these characters more sympathetic than the other? If Ford does indeed elevate John over Edward, or vice versa , what does his preference imply about the overall message of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast The Good Soldier's main characters: John Dowell, Florence Dowell, Leonora Ashburnham, and Nancy Rufford. Of these characters, who is the most morally righteous? Who is the most enlightened? Determine the identity of the novel's hero, or whether the novel has a hero at all. In your assessment consider the following questions: does Ford seem to sympathize with any of these characters more than the others? What qualities make one of these characters "better" than the others? Who, if anyone, does Ford believe one should model his behavior after? If Ford indeed elevates one character over all the others, what does his preference imply about the overall message of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Consider Edward Ashburnham as a romantic hero. Is Edward Ashburnham wrong for satisfying his romantic desires or is he simply a libertine who casts aside the established norms of his society? Are Edward's sexual liaisons simply Edward's way of expressing his individuality? Is Edward more "free" than other characters because he acts on his desires and does not pay heed to the arbitrary obligations imposed by the institution of marriage?

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