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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. According to John Dowell, how long does it take Captain Edward Ashburnham to grow tired of Florence Dowell?
2. Why is John Dowell drawn to Leonora Ashburnham?
3. What color is the dress Nancy Rufford wears on the night of Florence Dowell's death?
4. Leonora Ashburnham goes to Maisie Maidan's room after the trip to the castle. What does she find there?
5. How many years of "uninterrupted tranquility" transpire between the Ashburnhams and the Dowells?
Short Essay Questions
1. Is it surprising that John Dowell, the narrator in Part 3, Chapter 1, tries to justify Captain Edward Ashburnham's relationship with Nancy Rufford?
2. 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" ?
3. Why does John Dowell identify with Leonora Ashburnham?
4. What is surprising about John Dowell's reaction to Maisie Maidan's death?
5. According to John Dowell's point of view, what qualities define American culture?
6. Explain the motivations of each character (Florence Dowell, John Dowell, Leonora Ashburnham, and Captain Edward Ashburnham) for taking the trip to the castle.
7. Why does John Dowell enjoy the train ride to the castle?
8. What is the significance behind the novel's title, The Good Soldier?
9. Is it wise for John Dowell to marry Florence?
10. By the end of Part 2, Chapter 2, both Florence Dowell and Maisie Maidan have died. Compare and contrast the death of Maisie Maidan and the death of Florence Dowell.
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
What is the overall message behind The Good Soldier?
Essay Topic 2
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?
Essay Topic 3
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?
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This section contains 1,118 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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