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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 recent addition has been made to the House?

2. Which of the following best describes Phoebe?

3. Who built the House of Seven Gables?

4. Hepzibah is whose sister?

5. How does Hepzibah react to the Judge being at the House?

Short Essay Questions

1. What tragedies soon afflicted the Pyncheon family?

2. What did Maule do right before he died?

3. What does the Judge try to do?

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

5. Describe the events surrounding the murder that was committed 30 years before the start of the story.

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

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

8. Describe Phoebe's first encounter with the Judge.

9. Describe Holgrave and Uncle Venner.

10. What were the Maules like as a family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay exploring Hepzibah and Phoebe and their roles as women in their society. How do the expectations and customs of nineteenth century new England influence their options and choices? How do these factors influence the events of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay exploring the relationships among the characters in the house. Consider Hepzibah's, Phoebe's, Clifford's and Holgrave's relationships with one another, whether these relationships are implicit or explicit, and why these relationships are important.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay that explores the importance of Maule’s curse. How is the curse fulfilled throughout the story? Is the curse real or do its apparent victims bring their misfortune upon themselves?

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This section contains 740 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample