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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. According to Virginia, what makes a person technically insane?

2. At what time of day does Virginia set off for a walk?

3. What does Laura feel herself to be?

4. With which particular person does Laura contrast her own life?

5. What does Richard's empty chair reveal?

Short Essay Questions

1. What fears does Virginia have at this point in the novel?

2. What gives Laura the feeling that she has actually succeeded in achieving a kind of perfection?

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

4. Why has Virginia's attitude changed?

5. Why is suicide not an option for Laura?

6. Why does Laura delay joining her husband in bed as his birthday draws to an end?

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

8. Which character is referred to as the subjugated Amazon Queen?

9. In what ways are Clarissa and Mary different?

10. What are some of the ways in which Laura justifies to herself her trip to the hotel just in order to read?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Cunningham's style in The Hours. Was it essential for him to adopt a style similar to Virginia Woolf's in order to compose this novel?

Essay Topic 2

Birds and flowers are significant symbols in The Hours. Discuss the way these and one other symbol of your choice are used in the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Is Richard Worthington Brown's death a tragedy? You need to consider the nature of tragedy as well as the illness Richard suffered.

(see the answer keys)

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