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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. Whose portrait hangs on the wall in the parlor of the House?

2. What does the Judge repeatedly try to prevent Phoebe from doing?

3. Who is Uncle Venner?

4. For what crime has Clifford been convicted?

5. Which of the following best describes the Maules?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe some of the "eerie" qualities of the House.

3. What does the Judge try to do?

4. Describe Holgrave and Uncle Venner.

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

6. What tragedies soon afflicted the Pyncheon family?

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

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

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

10. Explain who Clifford is and describe his homecoming.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay discussing the importance of the old portrait of Colonel Pyncheon. How does the presence of the portrait influence the events and the atmosphere of the House? Why is its placement important? What does the portrait symbolize?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay that explains the significance of the romance between Phoebe and Holgrave. How does Hawthorne foreshadow its development? Why is it important? How does their union resolve the “curse” of the House of Seven Gables?

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This section contains 892 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample