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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 color does not look well on Sally?

2. What is a sarcophagus?

3. What is the reason for the slabs of italic type in this chapter?

4. How does Laura imagine the birthday cake?

5. How does Virginia describe Ralph?

Short Essay Questions

1. What important writing quality does Virginia exhibit?

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

3. What is Virginia's attitude toward Vanessa's children?

4. What is unusual about the headache Virginia suffers?

5. How does Laura attempt to achieve perfection?

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

7. Why does Virginia wish to avoid Nelly on this particular morning?

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

9. How pervasive are the voices Virginia hears?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the tension between commitment and freedom in the lives of the characters in Michael Cunningham's The Hours. Focus particularly on two major characters and one minor one.

Essay Topic 3

Writing has been said to hold a mirror to life. What do you see of life in The Hours and how is this vision significant?

(see the answer keys)

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