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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 'emanate' mean?

2. What is Laura doing with the blue bowl?

3. What is interesting about Richard's lungs?

4. Why does Richard burn incense?

5. What has appeared in the window-box of the woman next door?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Richie's attitude toward his mother?

2. For what reasons has Virginia Woolf decided to end her life?

3. What is significant about Oliver St. Ives?

4. What important writing quality does Virginia exhibit?

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

6. What does Virginia Woolf value about youth?

7. Account for Virginia's idea that death means freedom.

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a detailed critical essay on Michael Cunningham's The Hours. This should be a substantial essay that examines concepts, style, imagery, characterization and imaginative vision. Evaluate the novel. Do you think it deserved its Pulitzer Prize? You will need to write 800-1,000 words.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay that discusses the contribution of the minor characters in The Hours. Could any of them have been omitted? What difference do they make to the story? Do they enrich it in any way?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,085 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample