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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 the word 'ephemera' mean?

2. How old was Richard when he and Clarissa argued?

3. What sort of top is Clarissa wearing?

4. What is Richie nervous about?

5. What does a good house speak of?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is unusual about the headache Virginia suffers?

2. What impression of Leonard Woolf is given in this chapter?

3. Comment on an aspect of the Prologue's final paragraph.

4. What is significant about Vanessa's visit to Hogarth House?

5. What fascinates Laura about Virginia Woolf's death?

6. How pervasive are the voices Virginia hears?

7. Why did Virginia not engage more with Nelly over the matter of the day's menu?

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

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

10. As presented in this chapter, what is Clarissa Vaughan's attitude to life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How do the various characters in The Hours by Michael Cunningham deal with the disappointments in their lives? Focus on three characters. What kinds of disappointments are faced? Do the characters deal with their difficulties successfully, or not?

Essay Topic 2

'In the debate about life versus suicide that tracks across the pages of Cunningham's The Hours, there is no winner.' Do you agree?

Essay Topic 3

In what ways do you think imagery is important in Michael Cunningham's The Hours? Consider concepts and characters and refer closely to the novel.

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