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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 Holgrave suggest about the Judge?

2. What does the Judge want to do when he arrives at the House and is speaking with Phoebe for the first time?

3. What does Phoebe do for Hepzibah her first morning at the House?

4. What does Hepzibah tell Phoebe about Holgrave?

5. Who comes to the shop window after Phoebe has visited the garden the first time?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Holgrave and Uncle Venner.

2. Explain who Clifford is and describe his homecoming.

3. Who is Hepzibah Pyncheon and why does she run a shop out of the house?

4. Who is Phoebe and how does Hepzibah react to her arrival?

5. How would you describe the House of Seven Gables?

6. Describe how Phoebe comes to stay at the House.

7. What did Maule do right before he died?

8. Who built the House of the Seven Gables? Why is this ironic?

9. Describe Phoebe's first visit to the garden.

10. Describe the Puritan-era legal battle over the land the house sits on.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Natural details in the novel play a small but noteworthy part in developing the setting and supporting the themes. Write an essay on the importance of natural elements, including the tree, the garden and the posies.

Essay Topic 2

The novel presents many examples of persons or things that are not what they initially seem. Write an essay that explores how the novel develops the theme of appearance vs. reality.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay exploring the oppositions between pairs of characters. Compare and contrast Uncle Venner with Judge Pyncheon, Holgrave with Clifford, and Hepzibah with Phoebe. How do these oppositions help develop the themes of the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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