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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 Laura seem to have learned through her time in the kitchen with Richie?

2. Vanessa resembles a sculpture of which period, according to Virginia?

3. Why does Clarissa take the stairs?

4. What is it that Clarissa suddenly doesn't have any more?

5. Her memories of 'taking the Host' show us what about Laura?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Laura's feelings about her son?

2. Why is Laura fearful of Richie making an error as he helps her make the cake?

3. What makes Clarissa Vaughan embarrassed?

4. How does Laura plan to compensate for her neglect of Dan and Richie at breakfast?

5. Why is Richard's nickname for Clarissa ('Mrs Dalloway') an appropriate choice?

6. When Clarissa thinks of Richard's illness, what makes her resentful?

7. Why is Clarissa hurt about Sally going out to lunch with Oliver St. Ives?

8. What is notable about Richard's good fortune?

9. What went wrong with the relationship of Clarissa and Richard when they were younger?

10. What does Willie Bass think of Clarissa?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How can knowledge of the context in which literature was composed deepen a reader's appreciation of the text? In your answer, refer closely to The Hours by Michael Cunningham, but you might expand your response by including reference to an additional text.

Essay Topic 2

'The ways in which people approach their everyday activities tells us a great deal about them.' Closely explore the way this happens in Michael Cunningham's The Hours.

Essay Topic 3

Explain the ways in which multiple points of view enrich the narrative in Michael Cunningham's The Hours.

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