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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. In the castle, what does Florence Dowell say to Captain Edward Ashburnham as she touches him?

2. Which character is a devout Irish Catholic ?

3. What is the date of Florence Dowell's death?

4. What is Florence Dowell's maiden name?

5. In Chapter 5 it's revealed that Captain Edward Ashburnham had resigned from his military commission. For what reason does he resign?

Short Essay Questions

1. Is it wise for John Dowell to marry Florence?

2. Is John Dowell justified in being angry at Leonora Ashburnham?

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

4. Why does Florence Dowell commit suicide?

5. In Part 1, Chapter 2, John Dowell recites a folktale about a she-wolf who betrays her husband for a poet. Why is John's telling of the folktale significant?

6. What is surprising about John Dowell's reaction to Maisie Maidan's death?

7. 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.

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

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

10. Why does John Dowell identify with Leonora Ashburnham?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is Leonora Ashburnham's motivation for keeping John Dowell in the dark about his wife's affair with Edward Ashburnham?

Essay Topic 2

Why does John Dowell not intervene in Edward Ashburnham's suicide? Does John fail to intervene because he wants to treat Edward as compassionately as one putting down a suffering old dog? Or does John not intervene for more sinister reasons? What are the possible motivations John may have for allowing Edward to die?

Essay Topic 3

The Good Soldier makes explicit comparisons between the awkwardness and unruliness of American life and the stately and opulent life of an English estate. Ford juxtaposes American culture and English culture not only by throwing the American Dowells and the English Ashburnhams together, but also by describing the generous and industrious eccentricities of Florence's Uncle John. Explain the role nationalism plays in The Good Soldier. In the essay consider the following:

1. Do the characters' nationalities cause conflict in the novel? If so, how?

2. Considering that Ford is English, does he show any biases? Does Ford accurately render American sensibilities or does he stereotype them?

(see the answer keys)

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