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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. Who is later convicted of murdering the owner of the House?

2. What does Phoebe find in the garden?

3. What becomes of the cousin of the convicted murderer?

4. What is the legend about the well?

5. What does Holgrave suggest Phoebe do the first time he meets her?

Short Essay Questions

1. What were the Maules like as a family?

2. What did Maule do right before he died?

3. Explain who Clifford is and describe his homecoming.

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

5. What do Hepzibah's feelings towards the Judge seem to be?

6. After the Colonel's death, what happened to the Pyncheon family?

7. Describe Holgrave and Uncle Venner.

8. What does the Judge try to do?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Colonel Pyncheon and the older Matthew Maule lived on different socioeconomic classes, and this class difference helped determine the fates of both families. Write an essay explaining the importance of class differences in the novel through the Pyncheon and Maule ancestors as well as the novel’s contemporary characters.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay that explores character changes throughout the novel. Which characters undergo important changes and are these changes a function of direct or indirect characterization? Why are these character shifts important? How do they help develop themes or motifs in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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