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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. Which best describes Phoebe’s last conversation with Holgrave?

2. What statement best describes Hepzibah’s appearance?

3. How does the atmosphere of the House influence Phoebe?

4. How is Gervais Pyncheon related to Colonel Pyncheon?

5. What does Clifford begin doing after Phoebe leaves?

Short Essay Questions

1. What childish impulse does Clifford give in to and who witnesses it?

2. What does Hepzibah find in the parlor?

3. How was young Matthew Maule already connected to the story of the House?

4. How does the atmosphere of the House influence Phoebe?

5. What are some of the things Clifford watches from the arched window, and how does he react to what he sees?

6. Why was the Judge finally successful at getting a meeting with Clifford?

7. What does Holgrave offer to read to Phoebe?

8. Describe Holgrave's attitudes towards society and tradition.

9. Maule agreed to help Gervais under two conditions. What were they?

10. How does Phoebe contribute?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay exploring the significance of Alice Pyncheon’s story. Why did Holgrave choose to share Alice’s story with Phoebe, and what is the importance of her story to the novel as a whole?

Essay Topic 2

Holgrave’s daguerreotypes play important roles at specific points in the narrative. Write an essay that explores the significance of the old photographs, how Hawthorne uses them and how they help develop the themes in the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay discussing how the novel develops the motif of stability vs. transience, or tradition vs. modernity. Which characters symbolize which side of this opposition? How does this motif help develop the themes in the novel? What is Hawthorne trying to convey with this motif?

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This section contains 727 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample