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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. With what profession is Nelly's calm compared?

2. Where will Laura put her robe?

3. What prompts Laura's fury?

4. What gives Mrs. Latch's garage the look of a miniature house?

5. As she drives, in what does Laura find consolation?

Short Essay Questions

1. What distracts Laura as she gets out of her car at Mrs. Latch's house?

2. What do the two women exchange as Laura prepares to return home?

3. What are Laura's rather bitter hopes about heaven?

4. Why does Walter want to buy his young partner a present?

5. What makes Virginia, at this point, begin to reconsider killing off her character, Mrs. Dalloway?

6. In what ways are Clarissa and Mary different?

7. What is Richard's most precious memory of Clarissa?

8. Why is suicide not an option for Laura?

9. What is ironic about Richard's apartment being open to the light?

10. What writing decision of Virginia's is prompted by her success in her campaign to move back to London?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

'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 2

There are numerous interpersonal tensions running through all sections of Michael Cunningham's The Hours. Discuss two of these interpersonal tensions. Are they resolved during the novel? How do they affect the characters who are involved? How are these tensions associated with the themes and/or symbols that are important in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

'Clarissa Vaughan is the only attractive character in Michael Cunningham's The Hours.' Is this a fair comment? Discuss the main characters in the novel (Clarissa, Virginia, Laura, Richard) and refer to others as you think appropriate.

(see the answer keys)

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